The morning sun spilled over the fortress walls in a pale gold wash, its warmth a deceptive mask over the tension brewing in the air. The usual quiet hum of dawn was broken by the frantic, uneven rhythm of hooves pounding against the dirt road.
From the watchtower, a guard squinted into the distance, his gaze fixed on the lone rider tearing across the plains. The rider coming toward them was hunched low, almost lying flat over the horse’s neck. Even from a distance, it was clear something was wrong. The stallion’s sides heaved with exhaustion, flecks of foam clinging to its mouth.
The gates opened just enough to let the horse through. The moment the horse staggered to a stop, its rider slid off like a sack of grain, hitting the ground with a thud. Blood streaked the side of his face, his
