Kaen had grown used to the shadows. Weeks had passed since he arrived in Lucas’s kingdom, and with every sunrise, he sharpened the art of deception. Lucas, blinded by desperation and drunk on power, had welcomed him in like a long-lost brother. He trusted him, believed every lie Kaen fed him, how Draka had mistreated him, turned his back on him, and discarded him like a broken sword.
Kaen played his role to perfection. Loyal, obedient, always available to do Lucas’s dirty work. He stood in on councils, helped design defense layouts, and even offered strategies. Lucas, the fool, smiled at him like a comrade, unaware that he was feeding information straight to Draka.
Every week, like clockwork, Kaen sent out letters through the hidden courier. Disguised as a merchant, the courier passed un
