"This doesn't make any sense," Jessica hissed, her voice rising with panic as her boots echoed against the cold stone floor. Flames from the sconces lining the narrow corridor flickered across her face, revealing lines of stress carved deep into her brow. She gripped her gown to keep pace, trailing behind her son. "How could Count Marrowind and his entire household be slaughtered—and I hear nothing of it? Why hasn't the realm erupted with this news?"
"We'll find that out once we're out of this gods-damned castle," Kohath snapped, his jaw clenched as he led her through the hidden passageway, flanked by six of their most trusted guards. The air was stale and musty, thick with the scent of ancient dust and iron.
Above them, high on the battlements of Castle Verna, the stillness of night shattered.
A black shape fell from the sky like a hawk diving for prey, landing on the rampart with a metallic thud that jolted the sentries to full alert. They spun, spears raised—only to freeze.
