The morning sun in Almira rose like a flame kissing the misty mountain crests, spreading light across the flower-laced terraces and sun-dappled corridors of the castle. Inside the elegant dining hall, River sat at the long table, a soft shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Despite the serene beauty outside, her stomach churned.
Across from her sat Thas.
He wore his usual mask of politeness—elegant clothes tailored to perfection, a faint smile on his lips that never quite reached his calculating eyes. The cutlery on the table clinked softly as servants brought in fresh bread, wild berries, and aromatic tea from local herbs.
“Still no word from Heiko?” Thas asked with a casual tone, slicing into a piece of fruit.
River kept her posture steady, her expression unreadable.
“Not yet,” she re
