The chilly breeze made my cloak billow behind me like a ghoul as I perched on the high branch of the ancient tree, its bark rough against my fingertips. From my vantage point, I had a clear view of the clearing below, where two armies stood at a tense standstill, waiting for the first move to be made.
Above, the sky churned with dark clouds, their heavy masses veiling the sun and casting the battlefield in an ominous twilight. The air was thick with anticipation, cold and sharp, like the edge of a blade poised for a fatal strike. It felt as though a storm would break at any moment.
It wouldn't.
I had made sure of that. Even the atmosphere had to be perfect for today's spectacle.
This was the culmination of the war—its climax. Every piece had been carefully positioned, every player set upon the board, ready to move at my command.
