The council chamber exploded into chaos.
"Captured?"
"How?"
"When?"
"By who?"
The questions came from every direction at once.
The scout looked exhausted.
Terrified.
"We lost contact with the eastern patrol before dawn."
King Aldric stood immediately.
"How many soldiers?"
"At least two hundred."
The room fell silent.
Two hundred soldiers for one old woman.
That wasn't a kidnapping.
That was a mission.
A planned operation.
Lord Varyn hadn't captured the Oracle by accident.
He wanted her.
Specifically.
And that frightened everyone.
Because nobody understood why.
Queen Seraphina's face had gone pale.
For the first time since arriving at the Hollow, genuine fear crossed her features.
Not fear for herself.
Fear for what Varyn might learn.
Or worse...
What he already k
