The Three Hybrid's

Chapter 8: The Queen in the Northern Sanctuary

The journey north began before sunrise.

Ravian rode through the mountains with Caedmon beside him and the old witch following behind.

The winged guardian remained above them, watching the skies.

For three days, they traveled without stopping for long.

The farther north they went, the colder the land became.

Snow eventually covered the ground.

Ravian pulled his cloak tighter.

"How much farther?"

Caedmon pointed toward the horizon.

"The sanctuary is beyond those mountains."

Ravian stared at the towering peaks.

"Does my mother really live there?"

"She has lived there for eighteen years."

Ravian lowered his eyes.

"Eighteen years."

He had spent his entire life believing he was alone.

Now he was discovering that both his parents had survived.

But neither had been there.

The thought hurt more than he wanted to admit.

Noctis stirred inside his mind.

She protected you.

Ravian frowned.

"By staying away?"

Sometimes protection looks like abandonment.

Ravian didn't answer.

That evening, they reached a frozen valley.

The wolves suddenly stopped.

Caedmon raised his hand.

"Something is wrong."

Ravian looked around.

The forest was completely silent.

No wind.

No animals.

Nothing.

Then an arrow struck the ground.

Another landed beside Caedmon.

"Ambush!"

Warriors emerged from the trees.

Their armor was white and silver.

Ravian raised Eclipse Fang.

"Valen's soldiers?"

Caedmon shook his head.

"No."

The warriors surrounded them.

A woman stepped forward.

She wore a silver mask and carried a long spear.

"State your name."

Ravian stepped forward.

"Ravian Thorncrest."

The warriors immediately lowered their weapons.

The woman froze.

"You said Thorncrest?"

"Yes."

She removed her mask.

Her face was young, but her eyes were filled with surprise.

"You're the prince."

Ravian looked at Caedmon.

"You know these people?"

Caedmon nodded.

"They serve the Northern Queen."

Ravian's heart raced.

"Take me to her."

The woman bowed.

"Follow me."

They entered a hidden passage beneath the mountain.

After several minutes, the tunnel opened into a vast underground city.

Thousands of wolves lived there.

Children played in the streets.

Warriors trained.

Blacksmiths forged weapons.

Silver banners bearing the Thorncrest symbol hung from every building.

Ravian stared in disbelief.

"She built all this?"

The woman nodded.

"Queen Elara has prepared for your return since the night the kingdom fell."

Ravian walked through the city.

People stared at him.

Some whispered.

Others bowed.

He finally reached a massive silver palace.

The doors opened.

Ravian stepped inside.

His heart pounded.

At the end of the hall stood a woman.

She wore a long silver dress.

A crown rested on her head.

Her dark hair fell over her shoulders.

She looked at Ravian.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then her eyes filled with tears.

"Ravian."

His entire body went still.

He had imagined this moment countless times without knowing it.

He had imagined anger.

Questions.

Maybe even hatred.

But now that she stood before him, none of those words came.

"Mother?"

Queen Elara covered her mouth.

Then she walked toward him.

Ravian remained frozen until she stopped in front of him.

She touched his face.

Her hand trembled.

"My little boy."

Ravian's eyes filled with tears.

"I'm not little anymore."

Elara laughed through her tears.

"No."

She pulled him into an embrace.

Ravian hesitated before finally embracing her.

For the first time in eighteen years, he felt the warmth of his mother's arms.

Then he stepped back.

"You left me."

Elara's smile disappeared.

"I know."

"You let me grow up without you."

"I know."

"Why?"

Elara looked at the old witch.

Then back at Ravian.

"Because Valen was searching for you."

Ravian's voice became quiet.

"You could have found me."

"I did."

He stared at her.

"What?"

"I watched you."

Ravian's expression changed.

"All these years?"

Elara nodded.

"From a distance."

"Why didn't you come to me?"

"Because the moment Valen discovered you were alive, he would have come for you."

Ravian looked away.

"You should have trusted me."

Elara stepped closer.

"You were a child."

"I'm not anymore."

"I know."

She looked at Eclipse Fang.

"And now the entire kingdom knows."

A horn suddenly sounded outside.

Elara's expression changed.

"What happened?"

A soldier rushed into the hall.

"Your Majesty!"

He knelt.

"The southern scouts have returned."

"Speak."

"They saw the armies of Valen moving north."

Elara's face hardened.

"How many?"

"Thousands."

Caedmon stepped forward.

"How long?"

"Two days."

Silence filled the hall.

Ravian looked at his mother.

"They're coming for me."

Elara shook her head.

"They're coming for all of us."

She walked toward a large table covered with maps.

"The Northern Sanctuary has remained hidden for eighteen years."

Ravian joined her.

"Then we defend it."

Elara looked at him.

"You don't understand what you're facing."

"I faced twelve Alpha Lords."

"And survived."

Ravian nodded.

"Exactly."

Elara smiled faintly.

"You have your father's courage."

Ravian looked at her.

"And his enemies."

"Yes."

Elara placed her hand on the map.

"Valen will not stop until the Eclipse bloodline is destroyed."

Ravian studied the map.

"Then we stop him first."

Elara stared at her son.

For the first time, she saw not the child she had lost.

She saw the king who had returned.

She turned toward the gathered commanders.

"Prepare the army."

The commanders bowed.

Ravian looked at his mother.

"How many warriors do we have?"

"Twenty thousand."

Caedmon's eyes widened.

"Twenty thousand?"

Elara nodded.

"But Valen has more."

Ravian looked toward the northern gates.

"Then we'll need allies."

Elara's expression became serious.

"There is one clan that may answer your call."

"Who?"

"The Moonfang Clan."

Ravian frowned.

"I've never heard of them."

"Because Valen erased their name from history."

Elara opened an ancient scroll.

"The Moonfang wolves are the oldest enemies of the Eclipse bloodline."

Ravian stared at the symbol.

"Why would they help me?"

Elara looked directly into his silver eyes.

"Because your father once saved their king."

A horn sounded again.

This time much closer.

A messenger rushed inside.

"Your Majesty!"

Everyone turned.

"The southern army has arrived."

Ravian looked at his mother.

Elara slowly picked up her sword.

"Then our first battle begins now."

Ravian drew Eclipse Fang.

The silver blade glowed.

Outside, thousands of wolves prepared for war.

And across the frozen valley, the army of King Valen marched beneath black banners.