Part 2
Far away on the other side of Karand, the news of what transpired in Nightcrest was quick to arrive in Chillwatch. The normally jovial Rangers became serious and paranoid, and the reports of the moving snowstorm became a daily occurrence. So far it had not yet entered Elven Lands, staying exactly along the border, pausing only at places with an official border crossing. Soon enough, the summertime snow began to fall in Chillwatch, and the reaction was as expected.
As Syndra walked up the Queen’s Highway toward Chillwatch, her mood was much better than it was in Nightcrest. She had only been forced to kill a further 8 rangers since then, and never more than one at a time. Perhaps it had just been coincidence in Nightcrest? Her snowstorm had softened into lightly falling snow, and her breathe no longer turned to ice as it left her mouth. She was confused to see the entire contingent of Rangers awaiting her arrival outside of Chillwatch, though. She was even more surprised to see the Ranger Captain motion for them to stand down.
"I had to confirm it with my own eyes, to be sure. But it’s really you." The Ranger Captain said, solemn. "Princess Valmaris, true heir to Ammangoan, welcome home."
Syndra studied the looks on their faces. They all seemed so serious, but it was when she looked at their armbands, she saw a real surprise, her royal seal. A seal she thought destroyed and lost hundreds of years ago. A seal once upon a time even considered illegal to display, if she recalled correctly.
"You must have been waiting for me for a very long time." Syndra eventually replied, her voice soft and melancholy. "Yes, I have returned at long last to avenge my beloved husband, Prince Tarron."
The gathered Rangers kneeled at her feet in response, leaving her slightly unsure of what to do. It seems she’s already regained followers, something she never thought she’d have again. Soon enough they rose, and the Captain approached her, and spoke quietly.
"My liege, my men and women need to know, why have you been slaughtering your way across the border? We would follow you to our graves but we need to know why we fight."
Syndra nodded. It was their right to know why they fight, after all. "Tell them I will address them."
The Captain gave a short nod and shouted orders. Within seconds the Rangers fell into a straight line and stood at attention. Syndra approached them and spoke.
"Just as he robbed me of my family and of descendants, I will return the favour a hundredfold. All those with the betrayer’s bloodline no matter how slight will be put to the sword. However." Syndra paused. She couldn’t expect them to be as ruthless as she is, and she knew it. How to solve this dilemma? Then, it came to her. "I will not punish you for not following this order to the letter. This is my personal vendetta, not yours. The sins of murder are mine alone to bear. But understand this means I will slay not only military men and women, but others too. Peasants, merchants, nobility, any with even a drop of his bloodline within them. Even children, yes. But when I am done, Valmaris will be restored to the throne of Ammangoan."
It was at this moment Taenya arrived in Chillwatch and changed Syndra’s life forever with a startling revelation.