The meeting with my retainers has just concluded, and though I've managed to calm their nerves, the weight of finding a solution still presses heavily on my shoulders.
I barely take a step when a figure materializes before me, silent as a shadow. I halt instinctively, though my expression remains composed, even if my heart briefly races from the surprise.
It's her—Leona, one of Thorne's infamous subordinates. She's unnervingly quiet, as though she doesn't breathe or exist in the same realm as the rest of us. The way she moves, it's no wonder she's an assassin. Even my own personal assas- I mean knights—trained rigorously for stealth—could learn a thing or two from her. I make a mental note to suggest as much to Thorne later.
"He requests your presence," she says curtly, her voice clipped and efficient. There's no further explanation, no unnecessary pleasantries.
