Five nights later, deep in the dead of night, the heavy rhythm of marching feet shattered the forest's silence.
Under the cover of moonlight, over a thousand Urska warriors slipped through the hidden valley pass and infiltrated deep into the heart of Bonehowl territory.
At the front of the column, Severin's eyes burned with the savage ecstasy of a man who believed his revenge was finally within reach.
Freya was pressed close to him, her voice soft and trembling.
"Severin, are you absolutely certain about this route? What if Lydia has set up an ambush?"
Severin let out a dismissive laugh.
"Relax. This gorge is the single blind spot in the Bonehowl defense. The terrain is so treacherous that normally only the most elite patrol squads are stationed here. But I had someone tamper with to
