The air outside was crisp and biting, We waited in the shadows, Ariel clinging to my arm as Lucius reappeared, this time in disguise. His regal aura was subdued, hidden beneath plain clothes that made him look more like a common traveler than a king. But his eyes—sharp and calculating—betrayed his true nature.
Beside him stood Gideon, the general assigned to accompany us. He had introduced himself earlier, his presence steady but unassuming, a balance of strength and subtlety. A handful of mages lingered in the distance, their presence more felt than seen, their energy humming faintly in the air.
Lucius gestured toward the waiting horses. "We're not taking a carriage," he said. "We'll travel faster this way."
I nodded, though my grip on Ariel tightened instinctively. She looked up at me, her eyes wide with excitement and a hint of fear. "Are we really going to ride a horse together?"
"Yes, sweetheart," I replied softly. "Stay close to me."
