All eyes turned to Herrick.
No one spoke.
The fear in the room was heavy, pressing down on every chest. No one wanted to be the next name whispered in the city. No one wanted to die—not like this, not at the hands of Nathaniel and the Ashen Fang Legion.
Herrick let out a slow breath.
“I think…” he began, his voice steady but low, “the only way out of this is to meet General Thorne.”
Silence.
Then confusion spread across their faces.
Some stared at him like they hadn’t heard correctly.
Others frowned deeply.
General Thorne?
The name alone felt out of place.
Everyone in Velmore knew the man.
Nathaniel’s father-in-law.
A retired general who had long cut himself off from everything—and everyone.
He had even disowned his own daughter for marrying Nathaniel.
He never allowed anyon
