The Shado

ace where shadows clung like secrets and the

was isolated as it

ade in order to meet with

k, stepped forward fro

rasp. "Two years," the man said, the words cut

his own shadows mir

er, hitched almos

se?" the man continued, a hint

t you to the General... Make no

s whisper. "The time has come.

eavy in the air,

unavoid

not wait for

the darkness, leaving Nicole alo

ined still

clenched into a fis

r than before, a ragged ga

ot with strategy, not wi

ra

melody he cou

rmth that linge

s name, a whisper that

t briefly, a silent plea aga

tarted, not between p

, his path ha

e. Wait.

was her and nothing

w..." he muttered under his breath, t

g the line... Duty had turned into he

l kill her," he said quietly, the realization se

not allow. No matter what oath he had

I can do... Nora." He turned toward the directi

f, returning to the composed

courtyard, ensuring no one was watching him, before

im, he was b

silent as specters

expression had returned to its usual calm. Contro

ion revealed nothing of

ones Durkehn's private study was thick wit

said, bowing slightly, his voice bare

ely, his back to Gareth, his gaz

pe

im as ordered.

et so

ally warm with paternal affect

u see h

esty. Gareth

s cove

.. cold

's voice was dangerously lo

, a flicker of f

. on his arm

ened, a predator scen

crude sketch was

a stared

ough simple,

darkened, a storm gathering

ut they carried the weight of war, of betr

he other guards

htly at his side, nails

nder his breath, the pain eviden

ld, devoid of all warmth.

diately ordered for Nico

y... a traitor or a spy was

ly a place of grandeur

one, a formidable figure,

wardly composed, but a tremor ran through

round him, their presen

ed with unspok

voice devoid of its usual warmth

to my home, treated you as famil

Nicole's heart... his eyes

eyes bore

e man you m

osure... he didn't suspect someo

continued, his voice rising,

of the Shadow Fang tattoo, now ly

ly sharp and calcula

the eyes of a warrior, but of a

n apology, a desperate plea for un

usted me.' The thought echoed in

all crashed down on him, a tidal wav

r in Nicole's eyes, the b

t. "You have nothing to say?" he demanded, his voice now a roar that shook the very foundations of

the mission, Nora... it was a tangled web of loyalties and betrayals, and

his only shiel

wer

l no

expressio

one last time," he sa

s your loy

ted his ga

said

lence any longer. "Take him a

wn into the deepest, darkes

ting reflection of the king's h

ora, her heart light with an

t order: no one was to tell th

y the truth. He planned on telling her himself,

uld be executed. That was

as met with evasive repli

ly grew cold, a chilling prem

ng, a vibrant flame that now

meant for celebration, Nora heard hushed v

ood ra

er royal command ringing with

ves! What has ha

nations tumbled out, revealing the

ief and anger. She stormed through

ears streaming down her face. "Nicole is falsely accused!"

his daughter. "Why do you support him so much

aking. "I love him so much, and my hear

ble to bear the weight of the moment, she turn

a king without comfort, unab

st way to let her know the truth, th

in her despair, had already

ctured realm, its foundations shaken by a love that had blosso

oing to s

er what