*Alec*

A rumble of thunder peeled through the sky, followed by a forked flash of lightning against the horizon. I looked up briefly, adjusting the hood of my bloodied cloak against the onslaught of rain, before I steadied my gaze back towards the mouth of the harbor, which led across the river to the plains and the capital of the Silver Crescent beyond.

Behind me, the village of Estoria lay dark and silent before the looming dawn. Soon, lights would come on in ...