"And who might you be?" King William demanded.
The figure stepped forward, pulling back their hood to reveal a young woman with fiery red hair. "My name is Elena, and I represent a group of individuals who believe that war is not the answer. We believe that there is a better way to resolve this conflict."
King Edmund scoffed. "And what do you propose, young lady? That we sit down and sing songs together?"
Elena smiled wryly. "Not quite, my lord. But we do have a plan that could bring an end to this war without bloodshed. A plan that involves finding the artifact before either of you can get your hands on it."
The room erupted into murmurs of surprise and disbelief. The kings exchanged a glance, clearly intrigued despite themselves.
"And what, pray tell, is this plan of yours?" King William asked.
Elena took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. "We call it The Blood Pact."
As they walked, Kael turned to Elara. "So, what do you think of this war?" Elara sighed. "I think it's a tragedy. So many lives will be lost, all for the sake of power and pride."
Kael nodded. "I couldn't agree more. But what about the rumors of the artifact?
Do you think it's real?"
Elara shrugged. "Who knows? There are so many legends and myths surrounding it. But if it is real, it could be the key to ending this war."
Kael nodded thoughtfully. "We'll need to keep our eyes and ears open. If there's any chance of finding the artifact, we can't let it slip away."
As they reached the tavern, they could hear the sounds of lively conversation and laughter emanating from inside. Kael pushed open the door, and they stepped into a warm and cozy atmosphere. The room was filled with people of all sorts, drinking and enjoying each other's company.
Kael scanned the room, searching for their contact. And then he saw her – a tall, imposing figure sitting at a table in the back corner. She was dressed in black leather armor, and her face was obscured by a hooded cloak.
Kael and Elara made their way over to her table, taking seats across from her. The woman regarded them with a steely gaze, and Kael could sense the tension in the air.
"Who are you?" she asked in a low voice.
"We're here to talk about the artifact," Kael replied, keeping his voice calm and even. The woman leaned back in her chair, studying them for a moment. And then she nodded. "Very well. But be warned – if you're here to waste my time, you'll regret it." Kael and Elara exchanged a quick glance, and then Kael reached into his bag and pulled out a small parchment. "We have information that you might find useful," he said, sliding the parchment across the table.