[Insert your HTML content here] The captains leading each division soon arrived at their assigned destinations and, upon seeing houses consumed by flames while thick smoke rose into the sky, they immediately understood the extent of the destruction. Without wasting another second, one of the captains raised his voice above

[Insert your HTML content here] The sound had barely left his mouth before Rowan’s fist crashed violently into his face. A sickening crack echoed through the dungeon as Griswold staggered sideways, blood immediately spilling from the corner of his lips. Even then p> He continued laughing. The sound only made

[Insert your HTML content here] Rowan’s jaw tightened. “So many men died carrying out my orders… and Cedric His voice caught before he forced himself to continue. “The one man who has stood beside me through everything is now fighting for his life because I sent him there p> He

[Insert your HTML content here] When the physician returned once again, the solemn expression that had clouded his face earlier had eased ever so slightly. It wasn’t the look of a man bringing wonderful news, yet neither was it the hopeless expression he had worn before. There was still concern

[Insert your HTML content here] Cedric’s voice was barely audible. Blood loss was rapidly draining what little strength he had left, and despite every attempt to keep him conscious, his body was slowly giving in. Watching the scene unfold, Griswold couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips. “If you

[Insert your HTML content here] It didn’t even seem as though Cedric was fighting with his full strength. He moved through every attack with remarkable precision, avoiding blades by the narrowest margin before countering with ruthless efficiency. One soldier clutched his stomach as Cedric’s sword pierced straight through him. Another

[Insert your HTML content here] A torrent of flaming arrows was about to rain down upon them when Griswold finally realized that Cedric had not been bluffing. The Lord Commander truly would rather die than betray Rowan. Griswold had only intended to frighten him into submission, yet now it was

[Insert your HTML content here] Cedric noticed every one of them. Even so, he could not afford to slow down because every hour they wasted gave Griswold another opportunity to disappear. “Stay alert,” Cedric reminded them firmly, his calm but commanding voice cutting through the heavy silence. The men straightened

[Insert your HTML content here] The next morning, Rosalind stirred awake to the gentle whisper of the morning breeze drifting through the curtains and the cheerful chirping of birds outside. For one quiet moment, still caught between sleep and wakefulness, she almost believed she was back at the little beach

[Insert your HTML content here] Without wasting another second, they mounted their horses once again and disappeared down the road. Three days passed p> The palace had heard nothing from Cedric or the men who had ridden with him. Julian stood in the palace garden, gripping the small wooden sword