The wind bites sharp and cold as dawn breaks over the capital. My horse is saddled, provisions packed, and the king's words still echo in my mind. This mission isn't just about finding the missing envoy — it's about proving that House Blackthorn deserves more than whispers and half-glances at court.
The Blackwood Forest awaits. And I have a feeling it holds more than just shadows.
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Chapter Three: Into the Blackwood
The journey to the forest is uneventful at first. The roads are quiet, too quiet for comfort. No traders, no peasants, not even a wandering minstrel.
By midday, I reach the edge of Blackwood. The trees loom tall and ancient, their twisted branches tangling together like grasping hands. The forest feels wrong — the kind of wrong that settles in the bones and refuses to leave.
I dismount, leading my horse by the reins. The silence here is absolute. No birds. No rustling leaves. Only the crunch of my boots on dry earth.
Then I see it.
A broken wheel from a carriage, half-buried in the dirt. Torn cloth hangs from a low branch — crimson and gold, the colors of Vasheer's envoy.
I'm on the right path. But something about this scene doesn't fit. There are no signs of a struggle, no bodies, no blood. It's like the caravan simply… vanished.
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A Sudden Decision
As I examine the area, I notice two distinct paths ahead:
1. The Overgrown Trail: A narrow, barely visible path winding deeper into the woods. It looks unused, but a faint glimmer — like metal — catches my eye in the distance. Could it be a part of the envoy's caravan?
2. The Riverbank Path: A wider, more traveled path following the edge of a murky river. Strange tracks, too large for any horse, lead this way.
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My Choice:
Follow the Overgrown Trail: It's risky, but the glint of metal could be a clue — or a trap.
Follow the Riverbank Path: The tracks are unnatural, but the path is clearer. It might lead to answers… or something worse.
What will I do?