Lirien's hand tightened around the hilt of her sword as she eyed Raven Blackwood suspiciously. "What do you want, Blackwood?" she demanded.
Raven's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I think you'll find that I'm exactly what you need. You see, I've been searching for this map for years. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get my hands on it."
Arin took a step forward, her voice firm. "We don't need your help. We can handle this on our own."
Raven chuckled. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong, little one. You may have the map, but you don't have the skills or the experience to navigate what lies ahead. Trust me, I can help you... for a price."
Eira's eyes narrowed. "What kind of price?"
Raven's smile grew wider. "Oh, just a small token of your appreciation. A little something to seal our... arrangement."
Kaelin's expression turned cold. "I think not," it said, its voice low and deadly.
Lirien hesitated, unsure of what to do. Part of her wanted to trust Raven, to believe that he could help them on their quest. But another part of her was convinced that he was hiding something.
As they stood there, frozen in indecision, a dark figure emerged from the shadows.
"You shouldn't have come here," it growled.
The figure was tall and imposing, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy.
Raven's eyes flickered towards the newcomer before returning to Lirien. "Ah, perfect timing," he said. "This is... uh... my associate. He's here to... ensure that our little agreement is carried out."
The dark figure took a step closer, its eyes fixed on Lirien.