The scream shattered the feast's illusion of grandeur. Chaos erupted as guests scrambled, swords drawn and eyes wide with shock. Crimson stained the rich velvet drapes and the marble floor, a dark contrast to the flickering candlelight.
Kaerys's heart hammered as she spun toward the source—a nobleman collapsed, blood pooling beneath him like spilled wine. A dagger gleamed in the hand of a shadowy assassin fleeing into the crowd.
"Seal the exits!" Kaerys commanded, voice sharp and commanding. Her mind raced. This was no random act—this was a signal, a declaration of war.
Beneath the Mask, True Faces
Lord Daven grabbed Kaerys's arm, pulling her aside into a small alcove. His breath was ragged, eyes burning with a mixture of fear and anger.
"They came for you," he hissed. "The Merchant Queen's spies are everywhere. Trust no one."
Kaerys's gaze was icy. "Then we must become shadows ourselves."
He smirked darkly. "You always did have a taste for danger."
Whispers of Betrayal
In the shadows, Jaro tracked the fleeing assassin, his boots silent on the marble floor. The dagger's hilt bore the sigil of a rival house — a clear message.
He returned swiftly, kneeling before Kaerys. "They want to break us from within."
Kaerys nodded, resolve hardening. "Then we will bind the broken pieces tighter."
Flames on the Horizon
Outside, Serenthis roared against the dark sky, her fiery breath a beacon of both hope and wrath. Neron stood at her side, the weight of leadership settling like armor on his shoulders.
"The war has come," he said quietly. "And there will be no turning back."
A Silent Vow
Kaerys met Neron's gaze across the courtyard, a silent promise passing between them — that whatever flames consumed their world, they would burn together.
End of Chapter 33