The second Vivienne burst into the training yard with that sealed ledger I knew the real fight had just grown ten times bigger.Sweat still dripped down my back from morning drills. I lowered my practice sword as she hurried over, her silver robes dusty and her face tight with urgency. Garrick stood beside me wiping his blade, his scarred brow already furrowed."Logan, Captain, you need to see this right now," Vivienne said breathing fast. She held up a thick leather bound book with strange glowing runes on the cover. "I took a small team to Malakor’s seized estate before the high mages could strip it clean. This was hidden behind a false wall in his private study. Encrypted financial records."I took the ledger from her hands feeling its heavy weight. "Encrypted how? Can you read it?"She nodded glancing around to make sure no noble pages lingered nearby. "I broke the cipher this morning. It is worse than we thought. Malakor was not running the show. He was a hired blade. A very well

The second Captain Garrick pulled me away from the training yard at dusk I knew he was about to show me something that could change everything.The courtyard had emptied out after another long day of drills. I wiped sweat from my face and followed him toward the far corner of the grounds where old storage sheds stood against the outer wall. Garrick moved fast for a big man his scarred face set in hard lines. He checked over his shoulder twice before stopping at a rusted iron grate half hidden by overgrown vines."Keep quiet Logan," he muttered. "What I am about to show you stays between us until the time is right."He knelt down and pressed a hidden latch under the grate. The metal lifted with a low groan revealing narrow stone steps leading down into darkness. I followed him without question the cool damp air hitting my face as we descended. Torches flickered to life along the walls as we moved lighting the way with soft orange glow.At the botto

The banquet hall doors slammed shut behind us with a heavy boom that cut off the worst of the screaming.I spun around in the narrow servant corridor, heart still racing from the fight that had just broken out. Garrick leaned against the wall, blood seeping through his sleeve from a fresh cut. Vivienne was already moving, her sharp eyes scanning every shadow."Keep up," she said, voice low and steady. "Vane will have the main exits locked in minutes. We take the back ways. No hero stuff, Logan. We talk first, run second."Garrick pushed off the wall with a grunt. "Lead on, girl. My arm is fine enough to swing a sword if it comes to it. How many of our own men do we have to get past?""Too many," Vivienne answered as we jogged down the dim passage. "But most guards are confused right now. Confusion is something we can use. Logan, stay between us. Your face is the one they will recognize fastest."We rounded a corner and nearly ran into thr

The Crown Hounds' howls ripped through the Whispering Woods like death itself was on our heels.Branches whipped my face as we crashed deeper into the trees. My lungs burned and every step sent pain shooting up my legs. Vivienne ran just ahead, her dark hair flying loose. Garrick brought up the rear, sword in hand despite the blood still leaking from his arm."Pick up the pace," Garrick barked. "Those howls mean they have our scent. Crown Hounds do not stop once they lock on."Vivienne glanced back without slowing. "We cannot outrun them all night. Logan, talk to me. What does your border instinct say about losing them?"I dodged a low hanging limb. "We need to turn and face small groups. Talk fast and hit hard if they refuse. They are soldiers like me. Maybe some will listen."A deep growl echoed close. Three Hounds burst from the bushes, masks glowing with anti magic runes. Their leader pointed a crystal rod straight at me. "Dragon Knig

The arrows came from nowhere and stopped us cold in the middle of the ash grove.One buried itself in the dirt inches from my foot. Another whistled past Vivienne and stuck quivering in a blackened tree. The wyvern growled and flared its wings to cover us. I raised my hands slow, body still sore from the fist fight with the Hounds."Easy," I called into the dark trees. "We are not looking for more trouble tonight. Show yourselves and talk."Figures slipped out from behind the burnt trunks like ghosts. About fifteen of them, wrapped in gray cloaks that matched the dead wood. Bows drawn tight, arrows pointed right at us. Their faces stayed hidden but their stance said they knew these woods better than anyone.A clear woman's voice rang out. "Dragon crest in the Whispering Woods while the Crown Hounds hunt you. Explain fast or we fill you with arrows."Vivienne stepped forward careful. "We escaped the capital after High Mage Vane poisoned th