A month after the incident at the lake, Tobias Faulkner sat quietly in the back of a carriage, the gentle sway of the wheels on the road doing little to distract him from the weight in his chest.
The long ride from Timberstead to the capital had taken days, but he didn't mind.
The silence suited him. Gave him time to think.
The king's summons had come without explanation.
Only a wax-sealed letter with the royal crest and a firm directive — heroes only. Leave your companions behind.
He wasn't thrilled about that part. He'd left the party behind with strict instructions not to go on any raids missions, just anything within the town.
Elisse, he trusted. Mostly.
But Bran, Zayn, and the rest? They were unpredictable.
Too many variables. And variables led to disaster.
Still, the king wouldn't summon them all without reason.
The carriage creaked and rolled through the towering gates of the capital.
