"A Great Lord," Ritchel said, his shoulders slumping. "Why would a Great Lord involve himself with us? We're so far away from the Black Wood, why would he even care?"
There hadn't been any Eldritch Great Lords east of the mountains in hundreds of years, if not longer. The strength required to control such a vast territory was nearly unheard of in the modern era.
In years past, the High Pass stood between the High Lord of the High Fen and the High Lord of the Vale of Mists. It was a safe and protected space between two powerful lords, neither of whom wished to claim the cold and barren lands that the Frost Walkers called home. For centuries, the people of the High Pass had been able to thrive here because of the protection granted by their neighbors.
