The morning sun rose over Haven, casting long shadows across the village square. William stood at the edge of his house, watching the eastern road. Something was coming. He could feel it in his bones—the same feeling he'd had before the Reclaimer's army, before the Empress's march, before the Shadow Council's ultimatum.
Elara came to stand beside him. "You've been watching the road all morning."
"Someone's coming."
"How do you know?"
"I can feel it."
---
The messenger arrived at noon.
He rode hard, his horse lathered, his face pale with exhaustion. He carried a letter sealed with a symbol William recognized—the silver tree of the Saint, but crossed with a sword. The Shadow Council's mark.
William broke the seal and read.
William Draven,
The Shadow Council has convened. We have wa
