Swoosh!
A burst of blue light flared from the circular stone platform, illuminating the square in a sudden, brilliant flash. As the light dissipated like mist torn apart by wind, three figures stood at its heart. One was clad in blackened armour, his bloodstained great helm catching the last shimmer of the fading light. Two swords marked him, one strapped at his waist, the other slung across his back like a silent warning. He loomed just behind Asher and the Kingmaker, his presence as silent and ominous as a drawn blade.
Kingmaker's eyes scanned the bustling town square before them. Dozens of wide-mouthed forges lined the perimeter, their open doors revealing glowing hearths and smouldering flames. Smoke spiraled skyward in thick, winding columns from the tall chimneys, forming a hazy veil above the industrious town.
