The long, arduous ascent from the coastal docks to the ancient stone citadel was heavily cloaked in a suffocating, oppressive silence. Cassian walked several paces ahead, his white suit glowing faintly in the flickering torchlight. He frequently rubbed his bruised throat, shooting dark, venomous glances back at Valerius, explicitly ensuring he remained safely out of arm's reach.
As we reached the absolute peak of the volcanic island, the massive, iron-reinforced wooden doors of the fortress loomed before us. Two heavily armored guards pushed the massive doors open with a prolonged, agonizing groan of ancient metal.
We stepped into the grand hall of the High Council.
The sheer scale of the room was completely overwhelming. Massive vaulted ceilings disappeared into the dark, smoke-filled
