KAEL POINT OF VIEW

The morning had grown quiet by the time the knock came.

I was in my chamber, standing over the long oak table that served as my war desk, reviewing reports from the border patrols. Several maps lay spread across its surface, marked with charcoal lines and small carved tokens that represented Moonfang’s forces along the surrounding territories.

Weak afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall arched windows, casting pale stripes of light across the stone floor. Outside, ...