The Weight of Truth
Aden's fingers closed tighter around something hard and sharp, knuckles paling, sinews tightening under his gauntlets. "You are surrounded by my men," he declared, his voice even, unyielding, weighted with the gravity of leadership. "Hundreds more are waiting outside these walls. I have no desire to kill you, stranger—but I will not hesitate to protect my kingdom. Come—why have you come here? Why strike against my soldiers, against my royal guard? What motivates a man such as yourself to introduce death into my court?
