The cold silence that had blanketed the kingdoms of Valeidio and Zephyros for seven days had begun to weigh on King Thaddeus like an iron chain around his neck. He could feel its tightening grip every time he walked through his empty throne room, every time he looked at the council chambers that stood tensely quiet, as though they, too, were bracing for something to break.
The quietness was unnatural, a foreboding that made his skin crawl. He would have preferred a direct threat, a proclamation of war, anything, really, over this unsettling silence.
Thoughts swirled, growing darker with each day that passed without word from his spies. Just then, a soft knock echoed through the room.
Thaddeus looked up, spotting Caledon standing in the doorway, his face grim. The sight sent a chill through him. Caledon rarely wore his expressions so openly. Whatever news he carried, Thaddeus knew it wouldn't be good.
