KAEL POINT OF VIEW

The war hall had not emptied since dawn.

Maps remained spread across the central table, weighted at the corners by daggers and iron markers. Scouts moved in and out with updates from the borders, each report feeding the same quiet tension that had settled over Moonfang since the news arrived.

Thorne.

Dead… or supposedly so.

I stood at the head of the table, reviewing patrol routes when the doors opened without announcement.

I didn’t need to turn to know who it ...