Nikolai
Mom had told me that Alexei was safe inside, so I could breathe a bit easier. I hoped that meant everyone else was okay too.
Warriors stood at attention along the border, just as we had planned. We had positioned them where we had seen the rogues gather. Trackers were also out, making sure no one slipped in from another side.
Then, we spotted them. The rogues approached as one large group, just as we expected. What caught me off guard, though, was their leader. He walked forward like he was on a casual stroll, completely unfazed by the situation.
When the rogues stopped, the man grinned widely. If I didn’t know any better, I might think he was friendly.
"Ah, Royals! What an honor to meet you," he declared, as if he hadn’t come to wreak havoc.
"What do you want?"
