The air in the castle was unusually still, a quiet that bordered on oppressive. Kade sat at the long table in the war chamber, maps and reports spread out before him. His fingers drummed absently on the armrest of his chair as he stared at the parchment, his thoughts heavy with the weight of recent revelations.
"Another force moving in the shadows,"
he thought.
"Because one Verath wasn't enough."
The door creaked open, and Vask stepped inside, his stride measured and deliberate. Behind him, Elvara and Thadric followed, their expressions serious. Selyna slipped in last, her movements as silent as the shadows she mastered.
'My lord.'
Vask began, placing a scroll on the table.
'The scouts from Sylvana have returned with additional information.'
Kade gestured for him to continue.
'The unidentified force near the western border is highly organized.'
Vask said,
