The hooded figure's voice carried an ominous weight, each word dropping like a stone into the stillness of the forest.
"The attack on your carriage was just the beginning," they said. "The players in this game are far more dangerous than you realize."
Celeste stood her ground, her dagger glinting faintly in the moonlight. Beside her, Edrick shifted slightly, his blade angling to catch the dim light, a subtle warning.
"Who are you?" Celeste demanded, her voice steady. "And why should we trust you?"
The figure stepped closer, their face still obscured beneath the hood. The insignia on their chest caught the light again—a stylized crow clutching a dagger. It was unmistakably the mark of the King's Shadow, a force as feared as it was mysterious.
"Trust is a luxury neither of us can afford, Lady Varrow," the figure replied. "But your enemies move faster than you think. If you don't act now, they'll dismantle your house piece by piece."
