00:00The journey from the isolated borders to the capital city of Tagoviste took three gruelling
00:07days. If the snow-covered forests were dangerous, the capital was a completely different kind of
00:15monster. The high walls of the city loomed like jagged teeth against the grey winter sky.
00:23Inside, the streets were lined with impaled traitors, a grim reminder of the voivode's
00:31absolute and terrifying power. Tristan rode beside Katerina, his jaw tight. He was a diplomat
00:39used to the veiled insults of the English court. But the brutality of Wallachia was suffocating.
00:46Katerina noticed his silence. She reached out, her gloved hand briefly brushing against his
00:53steel-clad arm.
00:55Do not let them see your disgust, Tristan, she whispered, her eyes fixed forward.
01:02Here, empathy is a weakness, and weakness is an invitation to the grave.
01:08Tristan nodded, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. I fear no man's cruelty.
01:15Katerina, I only fear what this place might demand of you.
01:21Behind them, Morgan the giant boar grunted uneasily, his heavy hooves clacking against the cobblestones.
01:29The city dogs barked frantically from the alleyways.
01:32But one look from Morgan sent them whimpering into the shadows.
01:39On Tristan's shoulder, Peter the monkey clung tightly to his master's neck, the small creature
01:46sensing the heavy, oppressive atmosphere of the capital.
01:52They arrived at the Grand Palace gates.
01:55The political marriage had to be ratified by the voivode himself.
01:59As the massive iron-studded doors swung open, Katerina and Tristan exchanged one last look.
02:06The ice between them had melted in the cabin.
02:10But to survive this court, they had to become colder than ever.
02:15That evening, the great hall was ablaze with hundreds of torches.
02:20The lords and ladies of Wallachia were dressed in dark velvets, heavy furs and glittering jewels.
02:29Yet, the air was thick with paranoia.
02:33At the head of the hall sat the voivode, a man whose quiet voice was more terrifying than a thunderclap.
02:42Katerina descended the stone staircase wearing a breathtaking gown of deep crimson and black silk,
02:50a stark contrast to her usual wolf-pelt armour.
02:55She looked like a true queen of the night.
02:59Tristan, dressed in a tailored midnight blue doublet, embroidered with silver threads,
03:05met her at the bottom of the stairs.
03:08He offered his arm, deeply mesmerised by her beauty.
03:13You look like a woman who could conquer the world.
03:16With a single glance, he murmured.
03:19Keep your eyes sharp.
03:21My night, she replied, with a faint, dangerous smile.
03:24Now, these wolves bite.
03:28During the feast, Lord Dragos, a wealthy and cruel Wallachian nobleman, approached their table.
03:35Dragos had long coveted Katerina, not for love, but for the strategic lands she controlled.
03:42He sneered at Tristan.
03:44An English knight, Dragos mocked, raising his silver goblet.
03:49Tell me, Sir Tristan, do they teach you how to fight in the West?
03:54Or only how to bow.
03:57Our Wallachian winters break fragile men.
04:00Tristan did not lose his calm smile.
04:03He calmly picked up his knife,
04:06gracefully flipping it between his fingers,
04:10before stabbing it precisely into the roasted meat on his plate.
04:15In the West, Lord Dragos,
04:18We learn that a barking dog rarely has the teeth to back it up.
04:22I survive winters by killing the wolves.
04:27The tension at the table was thick enough to cut with a blade.
04:31Suddenly, a commotion erupted.
04:34Peter the monkey had swung down from a chandelier and snatched a gold coin right out of Lord Dragos's hand,
04:43scampering away to the rafters.
04:45Dragos turned purple with rage,
04:48but Katerina let out a rare ringing laugh,
04:52breaking the tension and forcing the surrounding lords to chuckle.
04:57Dragos retreated,
05:00but his eyes promised blood.
05:03Late that night,
05:04the palace was asleep,
05:08but Tristan and Katerina stood on the stone balcony
05:11of their adjoining chambers.
05:14The moonlight bathed the city in a ghostly silver glow.
05:18Katerina leaned against the railing,
05:20her crimson gown billowing,
05:23slightly in the cold wind.
05:25Tristan stepped behind her,
05:27wrapping his warm cloak around her shoulders.
05:30He pulled her close,
05:32his chest against her back.
05:35Dragos is plotting something,
05:38Tristan whispered,
05:39burying his face in the crook of her neck.
05:42He was the one who sent the assassins in the forest.
05:45I can feel it.
05:47I know.
05:49Katerina breathed out,
05:51leaning into his warmth.
05:53He wants to prove you are unworthy of me.
05:56If he can humiliate or kill you legally,
06:00the Voivode will give him my hand.
06:03Suddenly,
06:04Morgan the boar who was sleeping near the balcony door
06:07let out a low, rumbling growl.
06:11Peter the monkey,
06:12perched on the balcony railing,
06:15hissed,
06:15and pointed toward the courtyard below.
06:19Tristan's eyes darted to the shadows.
06:22He spotted a cloaked figure,
06:24slipping a pouch of coins to one of the royal guards.
06:28They are bribing the Voivode as guards,
06:31Tristan said,
06:32his grip on Katerina tightening.
06:35The trap is set for tomorrow.
06:38Katerina turned in his arms,
06:40her piercing green eyes locking onto his.
06:44Then tomorrow.
06:46We spring the trap first.
06:48The next morning,
06:50the Voivode summoned the court.
06:53Before Tristan and Katerina could even kneel,
06:57Lord Dragos stepped forward,
06:59throwing a blood-stained English arrow onto the marble floor.
07:03Treason!
07:05Dragos declared loudly.
07:07This foreigner orchestrated the ambush in the forest
07:11to eliminate Wallachian soldiers
07:13and seize Lady Katerina's lands for the English crown.
07:18Murmurs of outrage filled the hall.
07:21Tristan stepped forward,
07:23his posture proud and unyielding.
07:25A desperate lie
07:27from a coward who hides behind hired blades,
07:32Tristan countered,
07:33his voice echoing off the stone walls.
07:35I demand the right of the accused.
07:38I demand a trial by combat.
07:40My steel against yours,
07:43Dragos.
07:44The court fell dead silent.
07:46Dragos smirked maliciously.
07:49I accept.
07:50But as a nobleman of high standing,
07:53I name my champion.
07:54From the shadows stepped a monstrous brute of a man,
07:58standing seven feet tall,
08:00wielding a massive executioner's axe.
08:03He was known as the Mountain Bear.
08:07Katerina's breath hitched.
08:08She reached for Tristan's hand,
08:11her composure slipping.
08:13Tristan, no, he is too big.
08:16I will offer my lands to Dragos to stop this,
08:20she whispered desperately.
08:22Tristan squeezed her hand,
08:24giving her a look of pure, burning devotion.
08:28You are not a prize to be traded.
08:31Katerina,
08:32you are my equal,
08:35and I will not let them take you.
08:38The Voivode raised his hand.
08:40At noon,
08:41to the death,
08:43the courtyard was circular,
08:45surrounded by high walls,
08:47where the lords and ladies watched.
08:50Snow was falling heavily,
08:52turning the arena into a white canvas,
08:55waiting for blood.
08:58Morgan the Boar was chained to a heavy iron post
09:02near the royal viewing box,
09:04thrashing violently and squealing,
09:06trying to reach Tristan.
09:08Peter the Monkey sat atop Morgan's back,
09:12screeching at the enemy champion.
09:15Tristan stepped into the snow,
09:17wielding his broadsword.
09:19The mountain bear charged,
09:22swinging the massive axe with terrifying speed.
09:26Tristan dodged,
09:27but the sheer force of the swing
09:29sent a gust of wind that knocked him off balance.
09:33The fight was brutal.
09:34Tristan used his agility,
09:37parrying, glancing blows.
09:39But he was getting pushed back.
09:42His left knee!
09:44Katerina screamed from the balcony,
09:47ignoring all royal protocol.
09:49He favours his right leg!
09:51Strike the left!
09:53Tristan heard her voice over the roaring crowd.
09:56The brute swung downwards,
09:59aiming to cleave Tristan in two.
10:01Tristan dropped to the snow,
10:03rolling beneath the arc of the axe,
10:07and brought his sword in a vicious upward slash,
10:11biting deep into the giant's left knee.
10:14The brute roared in pain and dropped to one knee.
10:17In a flash of silver,
10:19Tristan spun,
10:21and brought the pommel of his sword,
10:23crashing against the giant's temple.
10:25The champion collapsed,
10:28unconscious.
10:30Tristan stood over him,
10:32chest heaving.
10:33His sword pointed at Lord Dragos in the stands.
10:38Does the wolf have any more teeth?
10:41Tristan shouted.
10:43Dragos shrank back in fear.
10:46The courtyard was silent.
10:47The voivode stood up.
10:50Slowly,
10:51he looked at the fallen giant,
10:53then at Tristan.
10:55For the first time,
10:56a dark,
10:58chilling smile spread across the voivode's face.
11:01The Westbreed's strong steel,
11:04the voivode proclaimed.
11:06The gods have favoured Sir Tristan.
11:09The accusation is false.
11:11Lord Dragos,
11:12you will surrender half your lands to Lady Katerina
11:16as payment for this insult.
11:18Katerina ran down the steps into the courtyard.
11:21She didn't care about the watching lords,
11:25the voivode,
11:26or the rules of the court.
11:28She threw her arms around Tristan's neck,
11:31kissing him deeply in front of the entire kingdom.
11:35The crowd erupted into a mix of shocked gasps
11:40and reluctant applause.
11:42Morgan the boar finally broke his iron chain,
11:46trotting over to them and nuzzling against Tristan's leg,
11:50while Peter the monkey clapped his small hands joyfully
11:55from the boar's back.
11:57Two days later,
11:59they left the toxic capital behind.
12:02The ride back to the borderlands was quiet,
12:05peaceful,
12:06and filled with a profound sense of freedom.
12:10The sun was shining brightly,
12:12reflecting off the pristine snow.
12:14They were no longer pawns in a political game.
12:18They were a united front.
12:20They stopped their horses by a frozen lake.
12:24Tristan dismounted and helped Katerina down.
12:27He pulled her close,
12:28resting his forehead against hers.
12:31We survived the vipers,
12:33Tristan said softly.
12:35We did,
12:36Katerina smiled,
12:38a true radiant smile that reached her eyes,
12:41because they didn't realize.
12:42They invited a dragon and a lion into their nest.
12:47Tristan laughed,
12:48kissing her gently under the vast, open sky.
12:52Beside them,
12:54Morgan the boar dug his snout into the snow,
12:57unearthing a frozen root.
13:00While Peter the monkey sat on Tristan's horse,
13:03wearing a tiny, stolen gold chain around his neck,
13:06their war was far from over.
13:09But as long as they stood together,
13:11their kingdom would never fall.
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