Julian listened intently.
This was a part of history he had never fully understood.
He knew that Hermes had once been an extraordinary kingdom. He had also heard about its isolation and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the closure of its borders.
But the Queen Mother was describing something far greater than a wealthy and powerful nation.
"However," the Queen Mother continued, "there was one kingdom to the south of Hermes that never accepted its authority."
Julian's attention immediately sharpened.
"The Kingdom of Valthor."
There it was. He recognized the name.
It was a kingdom that he had encountered several times during his attempts to piece together the continent's forgotten history.
But he still knew very little about it.
The Queen Mother seemed to notice his reaction.
"It was not because Valthor was stronger than Hermes," she explained. "In fact, there was a considerable difference between the two kingdoms in terms of their influence and resources."
