The auroral heavens trembled with the piercing squeals of a golden eagle, its wings beating in rhythmic motion as it soared above the Willow Garden.
The bird's cries echoed through the misty dawn, shattering the stillness of the morning.
Tadmor, the Lord of the Tempest, sat cross-legged on the dewy grass, his eyes closed in solemn meditation.
His dark hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall of night, and his symmetrical tattoos glowed with an otherworldly light.
The touch-sensitive roses, scattered around the garden, stirred to life as Tadmor's presence awakened them.
Their delicate petals unfolded, releasing a gentle fragrance that wafted through the air, entrancing the senses.
The roses' slender stems swayed in harmony with the eagle's cries, as if the flowers themselves were singing a haunting melody.
The eagle's shrieks pierced the air once more, and Tadmor's eyes flung open, his gaze locking onto the bird as it descended in a spiral motion.
The eagle's wings beat slower, its feathers ruffling the air as it perched on the wrist of Tadmor's gleaming gauntlet.
The Lord of the Tempest uncovered the encoded message strapped to the eagle's leg, the seal bearing the image of a double-headed gargoyle.
With a deep breath, Tadmor broke the seal, and the scroll rustled as it rolled open.
The message, penned in elegant calligraphy, read:
"Hail, most noble and revered Liege!
Verily, I write to thee with tidings of great import.
Our loyalist brethren, stationed beneath the twin-towers of Tidal-Fall, hath laid eyes upon the Daughter of Light.
Fair Polaris, with tresses of gold and skin, pale as alabaster, doth lay ensnared within the castle's western wing.
By the blessings of the celestial spheres, our plan hath come to fruition.
The stars hath aligned in our favor, and the time for action hath arrived.
Shall we proceed, great Liege? Shall we claim the Daughter of Light as our own, and forge a new destiny for our realm?
Thine obedient servant,
[Seal of the Double Headed Gargoyle]"
Tadmor's face remained impassive, yet his mind raced with the implications of the message.
He pondered the words, weighing the risks and benefits of their plan.
The fate of the realm hung in the balance, and the Lord of the Tempest knew that his decision would shape the course of history.
With a steady hand, Tadmor scribbled a response, using a feather plucked from the eagle's wing.
His seal, the entangled Kraken of Cedarlake, adorned the note as he attached it to the eagle's leg.
"Hark, loyal servant!
Thy words hath reached mine ears, and I hath pondered the weight of thy message.
By the power vested in me, I hereby grant thee permission to proceed with the plan.
May the celestial spheres guide thee, and may our realm be forever changed by thy actions.
Fare thee well,
Tadmor, Lord of the Tempest"
With a swift motion, Tadmor released the eagle into the dawning sky, its wings beating powerfully as it soared towards the west.
A stern grimace discolored the face of the Lord of Cerulean Waters as he glared at the eagle's receding form.
In the distance, within the castle walls, a petite young blonde princess lay sprawled delicately on her soft feathery bed.
Polaris, the Daughter of Light, slept peacefully, her bedroom a sanctuary of luxury and tranquility.
The drapes of her bed were a deep pink glitter, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of frankincense.
Yet, the tranquility was short-lived.
A grapnel clutched the window frames, its steel hooks scratching the concrete, leaving deep marks like the talons of a winged predator.
Abruptly, brawny masked assailants climbed to the top of the twin towers of Tidal-Fall, sneaking in through the windows like ghosts.
Polaris gasped, her frail body jerked with consciousness in a futile attempt to escape.
But the loyalists of the Tempest were experienced assassins, trained to vanquish beasts from birth.
The brawniest of them all snatched the regal youngster in the manner a hawk swipes a chick.
Polaris tried to resist, but a single tap on her acupoint bereft her of consciousness, once more.
Her tiny body dangled like a pendulum on the broad shoulders of the masked assailant, who retreated by diving out the window while the others abseiled down the horizon.
Reaching the ground, Polaris' kidnapper pounced on thin air, moving with the speed of light.
His bronze boots glimmered with pulsing precision as he sauntered through the skyline in slow motion, the Daughter of Light slung over his shoulder like a trophy.
The Lord of the Tempest watched from afar, his eyes fixed on the receding form of the kidnapper.
A calculating glint sparkled in his eyes, and his mind raced with the implications of the events unfolding before him.
As the assailant vanished into the horizon, Tadmor's gaze shifted to the castle walls, where the loyalists of the Tempest had breached the defenses.
A hint of a smile played on his lips, and his eyes gleamed with a fierce hazel sparkle.
With a deep breath, he raised his fist to the sky, his tattoos pulsing like the stars.