Nova’s POV
The horn sounded again at dawn. Three long blasts this time. Not the warning from the ridge. This one came from the center of the settlement. Deep. Heavy. The kind that meant everyone had to gather.
Alaric was already awake. He stood at the window, arms crossed, staring toward the main hall. His face looked carved from stone.
“That is the war horn,” he said. “Kael is calling full council. Everyone who can hold a weapon.”
I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders. “What happened?”
“Scouts came back an hour ago. Silverfang crossed the neutral ground last night. Not scouts. Full war party. They burned two of our outposts. Killed three sentries. Left the bodies with Kieran’s mark carved into their chests.”
My stomach turned over. “They are not hiding anymore.”
“No.” He
