The crack within
BRISEIS The castle did not sleep that night. Neither did I. Even from my chambers, I could feel it — tension moving through the walls like a living thing. Guards rotated more frequently. Boots echoed in corridors that were usually still by midnight. Doors opened and shut with purpose. Messages were being carried. Decisions were being made. War outside the gates. Suspicion inside them. I sat near the window, watching the torches along the outer walls flicker in the dark. The rival Alphas had retreated to their camps beyond the northern ridge. They had not attacked. That frightened me more than if they had. Patience meant planning. And planning meant confidence. Someone had given them reason to believe they could win. A soft knock came at my door. I turned before answering. “Com
- Writer
