(Aria’s POV)

The council chamber smelled of smoke and steel. Torches flickered along the carved stone walls, throwing tall shadows across the circular hall where Kaelen’s council gathered. I had never stood in this place before, never felt the heavy weight of so many eyes trained on me at once.

Kaelen sat at the head, his chair more throne than seat, crafted of blackwood and iron. Varric stood at his shoulder, calm but watchful, while Lyra and Kael—his shadows—remained near the ...