The Free Council met in the great hall at the heart of the mountains.
William sat among the representatives from all the free communities—farmers, healers, builders, traders. Seraphina sat across from him, her silver mask gleaming. Greer sat beside her, her scarred face calm. Kaelen represented the eastern valleys. Aldric represented the old empire. Elara sat beside William, her brown eyes watchful. Anna stood behind them, her blue eyes scanning the hall.
The mood was tense. The news from the east had spread quickly, and fear was in the air.
"Speak," Seraphina said. "Tell us what you have seen."
Kaelen stood up. "I have returned from the eastern valleys. The Rust is spreading. New deposits are forming in the mountains. The spores are traveling, carried by wind and water. It is worse th
