The members of Operation Queen Rose had donned the guise of merchants, their wagons laden with goods that would not arouse suspicion at the borders of the elven kingdom. Their entry was smooth, their demeanor that of simple traders seeking profit in foreign lands.
**The Code of Secrecy**
Under the veil of night, they convened in hushed tones, speaking in a language of their own creation. To any eavesdropper, their words were but the babble of fools, nonsensical and benign. Yet, beneath the gibberish lay a complex system of communication, each phrase a carefully crafted cipher.
**The Gathering Intelligence**
Weeks passed as they gathered intelligence, their eyes and ears open to the whispers of the court. They mapped the routines of the guards, the comings and goings of the prince, and the moments when the princess was left unattended.
**The Midnight Meeting**
In the heart of the night, the team met once more, their code language dancing in the darkness. "The rose blooms at midnight," one said, a signal that the time for action was near.
**The Plan Unfolds**
"The thorns are sharpest by the moon's wane," another replied, indicating the chosen night for the rescue. They reviewed their roles, each member a crucial part of the intricate dance they were about to perform.
**The Briefing**
"The petals will fall upon the silent pond," the leader concluded, the final phrase of their briefing. It was a metaphor for the princess's extraction—silent, graceful, and unnoticed.
**The Promise of Dawn**
As they dispersed, the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, a symbol of the hope that Operation Queen Rose carried. The princess would soon be free, and Ebonwood's honor restored.