Cassian knelt in silence for what felt like an eternity. When he finally rose, every trace of warmth had drained from his eyes. Only a cold, ashen killing intent remained.
He spoke without turning. "Find someone for me. Bring him back to the Langley Manor."
Luke accepted the order but hesitated. "Where are you going, General Langley?"
Cassian stared ahead, hollow-eyed. "It's been a while since Lyla and I sparred."
By the time he returned home, the snowstorm over the city had stopped.
In the courtyard, Lyla had her handmaidens sweep away the fresh snowfall. She stood in the center, practicing with her lance. Her body twisted and pivoted with fluid grace, the steel tip of her weapon carving silver arcs through the lingering snowflakes. Her crimson cloak billowed behind her, every moveme
