The war room felt emptier now that the commanders had dispersed to carry out their assignments. Kade remained seated at the head of the table, leaning forward with his elbows on the polished wood. Before him, the map Vask had placed earlier seemed to taunt him with its grim details: territories marked in blood-red ink, representing the spread of Verath's influence and the Obsidian Pact's suspected reach.
Kade exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
"Am I actually ready for this?"
he thought.
"Taking on a cult with an ancient monster, on top of an undead necromancer who apparently has a grudge against me? Totally normal."
His musings were interrupted by Vask entering the room once more, his movements as silent as the shadows that seemed to cling to him. He carried a small stack of papers and scrolls, placing them neatly before Kade.
'These are reports from our informants and scouts in the field, my lord,'
Vask said, his tone measured.
