The moon hung high and distant, veiled behind tattered clouds that glided like ghosts across the sky.
Anna pulled the dark cloak tighter around her shoulders as she followed Uther through the dense forest trail.
The path was old—unused and nearly forgotten—overgrown with thorns and heavy with damp leaves.
The silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional snap of twigs underfoot.
She heard weird noises and the trees move around.
She felt a shiver of fear over her spine.
"Where exactly are we going?" she asked her uncle, voice low but sharp.
Uther glanced over his shoulder. "Somewhere private. No ears. No eyes. Just you, me, and the man who might help you destroy Jasmine."
"Why didn't we just meet somewhere else better?" Anna hissed harshly as she looked around the forest. "Why go through any of this even?"
"Because it's supposed to be discreet." Uther responded a hint of irritation in his voice.
