Chapter 4 : Frostkeep Conference

Three days'' travel brought them to Frostkeep.

The castle rose from the northern mountains like a crystal of ice. Blue-white stone glittered in the sun. Snow covered the peaks around it, but the castle itself radiated warmth. Magic warmth.

"Frostkeep," Silver said as they approached. "Where the alliance meets."

Alex stared. He''d seen castles in Europe. Windsor. Edinburgh. But this... this was different. Alive. The stone seemed to pulse with energy.

They passed through massive gates. Inside, the castle was warm. Huge fireplaces burned with magical flames that gave heat but no smoke.

The great hall was already full.

Alex saw elves—tall, graceful, with pointed ears and elegant features. Orcs—massive, muscular, some with tusks, all with fierce expressions. Humans—dressed in fine clothes, looking important.

All eyes turned to Silver as he entered.

The Silvermoon Wolf King. Even here, his presence commanded attention.

A human man approached. Platinum blond hair. Ice-blue eyes. He wore elaborate mage robes that shimmered with subtle magic.

"Silver," the man said. His voice was cool. Precise. "You''re late."

"Marcus," Silver nodded. "The rift needed sealing."

Marcus''s eyes flicked to Alex. "And this is?"

"Alex White. From another world. He''ll be assisting us."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Another world? Interesting. I hope you can provide useful insights."

His tone said he doubted it.

Another man joined them. Dark curly hair. Amber eyes. Handsome in a roguish way. He wore knight''s armor, but it was polished to a shine.

"Silver! Good to see you." The man smiled, but his eyes kept drifting to Marcus. "And who''s your friend?"

"André," Silver said. "This is Alex. Alex, Prince André of Francia."

André offered a hand. Alex shook it. The grip was firm. Confident.

"Another world, huh?" André''s smile widened. "Must be quite a story."

Marcus gave André a cool look. "This is a war council, not a social gathering."

"And yet here you are, being social with me," André said, still smiling.

The tension between them was palpable. Like two magnets pushing against each other.

The council began. A massive round table. Representatives from every race.

Silver took a seat. Alex stood behind him, trying to look like he belonged.

An elf with golden hair spoke first. His voice was musical. "The Shadow creatures grow bolder. They attack our borders daily."

An orc woman with fiery red hair and fox ears slammed a fist on the table. "My warriors are ready to fight! We fear no death! Only worthless death!"

Marcus unrolled a magical map. It glowed with moving lights. "Three rifts have opened. Here, here, and here. The Shadow forces are coordinated. This is not random invasion. This is strategy."

Silver leaned forward. "We need to close the rifts permanently. But we need more power. Legendary power."

All eyes turned to Alex. Silver had mentioned he was a legendary mage. Alex didn''t feel legendary. He felt like a history student in over his head.

"I... I can try to help," Alex said. "But I need to learn your magic."

Marcus frowned. "Learn now? There''s no time."

"Maybe there is," André said. Everyone looked at him. "If he has talent, and the right teacher..."

"I''ll teach him," Silver said. "Starting tomorrow."

The discussion continued. Strategies. Logistics. Alliances. Alex listened. Analyzed. His history training kicking in.

He saw patterns. The rifts formed a triangle. The attacks were coordinated. This was a pincer movement. Classic military strategy.

"Wait," Alex said. Everyone stopped talking. Looked at him. "Look at the map. The three rifts. They''re not random. They form points of a triangle. The attacks... they''re pushing us toward the center. Toward something."

Marcus studied the map. His eyes widened. "He''s right. They''re herding us."

"Toward what?" Silver asked.

"I don''t know," Alex said. "But it''s not just invasion. It''s a plan. A bigger plan."

The room went silent. The implications sank in.

This wasn''t just a war. It was a chess game. And they were the pieces.

The meeting lasted hours. When it ended, Alex''s head spun with information.

Marcus and André walked out together. Still tense. Still that magnetic push-pull.

"Interesting couple," Alex said quietly.

Silver almost smiled. "Politically arranged marriage. The Holy Empire and Francia need an alliance. Marcus and André are the price."

"But there''s something there," Alex said. "More than politics."

"Sometimes politics and personal feelings get tangled," Silver said. "Come. I''ll show you the training grounds. Tomorrow, your lessons begin."

As they left, Alex glanced back. Marcus and André stood in a corridor, talking in low voices. Close. Intimate.

Maybe love could grow even in arranged soil.