The knock at Rewald's door was soft but urgent. He had barely finished warding away the last of the travel dust from his boots when the crystal relay pulsed with a pale blue light. Linalee's voice followed, crisp and direct:
"Rewald. Your report has been received. We will speak in person. At once. Bring Commander Arasha. Bring no others."
The connection cut as cleanly as it began, leaving the air heavy with unspoken meaning.
Rewald exhaled slowly. Then he reached for his cloak again and headed down the corridor to find her.
He spotted Arasha in the eastern yard, giving quiet instructions to Garran and John over a table scattered with maps and watch rosters.
"Arasha," Rewald said, his tone drawing both men's attention. "Summons from Linalee. She wants us in the capital immediately. Private audience. No one else."
Arasha's gaze sharpened at once. She turned to Garran and John. "You'll take over patrol assignments and Hold defense in my absence. Prioritize the north ridge—if the scouts' sightings are correct, the rifts will appear there first. Keep the southern gate under triple watch until I return."
"Yes, Commander," Garran replied without hesitation, though his eyes flicked briefly to Kane, who lingered nearby.
"I'm coming with you," Kane said firmly, stepping forward.
Arasha raised a brow. "I'm well aware of the fact you have a lot to share when it comes to the rifts, Kane. And I think that it would be very advantageous if you share it with Linalee but Linalee doesn't know you and it might put her on guard…"
"I know," Kane replied, his gaze steady on hers. "But whatever's happening with these rifts—it's tied to me too. And you already said you'd rather have me close than guess where I am."
Rewald gave Arasha a sidelong glance. "He's not wrong. And if Linalee's as sharp as ever, she'll see the benefit of having him present."
Arasha's sigh was small but conceding. "…Fine. You can come. But you follow my lead."
Kane nodded. "Deal. And if we're going to the capital, I can make it faster."
Both Arasha and Rewald turned toward him.
"Faster?" Arasha asked warily.
"I can use talismans to teleport us," Kane explained. "Straight to the capital's outskirts. We'd be there in minutes instead of days."
Rewald's eyes lit up with genuine fascination, stepping closer as if Kane were a long-lost grimoire.
"Talismans? You mean stabilized, reusable sigils? How do you prevent temporal drift? What about ambient arcane interference? The last mage I knew who attempted long-range talisman jumps ended up in a swamp full of screaming lilies."
Kane blinked. "…I'd rather not end up in one of those."
Arasha watched the exchange, an amused glint in her eyes. Rewald almost never let excitement show—but here he was, practically leaning in like an eager apprentice.
She smirked. "If you don't say yes, Kane, he's going to talk your ear off until you do."
Kane sighed, giving her a look that all but said traitor. "Fine. Hold on to me when we jump."
Rewald grinned—actually grinned—and clapped Kane on the shoulder. "Marvelous. Let's see this art in practice."
A heartbeat later, the three of them stood on the outskirts of the capital, the high white walls looming under a wash of morning light.
The scent of market spices and river breeze rolled in from beyond the gates.
Rewald was practically vibrating, peppering Kane with questions as they walked: "Did you anchor the sigil to a fixed leyline? How did you tune for local resonance? Did you compensate for capital warding barriers, or did your talisman bypass them entirely?"
Kane glanced at Arasha, silently pleading for rescue. She only shrugged and smiled, the corner of her mouth tugging upward as if to say, I warned you.
They passed through the main gate with the guards' nods—Arasha's crest of command opening the way—and stepped into the capital proper.
The streets beyond were already alive with activity, unaware that the three strangers walking through its heart carried news that could shake the realm.
Ahead, the spires of the royal keep rose like a crown against the sky.
The castle awaited.
****
The keep's inner halls muffled the bustle of the capital outside, every step echoing on polished stone until the three of them reached a tall door veined with runes.
Kane paused at the threshold, eyes narrowing slightly at the shimmer of wards laced across its frame. Without a word, Rewald knocked in a rhythm only the person inside would recognize.
The door opened with a slow, deliberate creak, revealing Linalee's private chamber—walls lined with bookcases heavy with arcane tomes, a table scattered with maps, letters, and the faint glow of scrying crystals.
The air itself felt stiller here, thick with magic designed to keep unwanted ears far away.
Linalee's gaze landed on Kane first—sharp, assessing, the sort of look that weighed a soul, not just a face. Her eyes narrowed fractionally.
"My apologies," Arasha began at once, inclining her head, "I brought him without prior notice."
Before Linalee could speak, Rewald stepped forward, voice warm but firm. "He's trustworthy. If I say so, you can take it to the bank."
Kane, unruffled, offered a polite bow. "An honor, Lady Linalee."
Her sigh was quiet but telling. "Very well. Sit."
They obeyed, and Rewald wasted no time. "It's Hollow Valley. Mutated beasts, rift creatures crawling out like it's their birthright. We ran into rift cultists as well—too many for coincidence. It's building toward something."
Arasha leaned forward, her tone steady but carrying a deeper weight. "It's worse than that. I remember… a different timeline. The rifts will bring chaos and fear on a scale that could tear the continent apart. But they can be countered. I've done it before."
Linalee's eyes flicked toward her, but she didn't interrupt.
"And Kane," Arasha continued, "was there with me. My partner. We fought through it all, side by side."
Kane didn't add to her words, but the quiet certainty in his gaze toward her made them land heavier.
Silence fell, broken only when Linalee finally spoke. "If this is true, then the rifts are no longer just a border problem. They involve the whole continent."
She leaned back in her chair, rubbing at her temple. "Just thinking about it… the logistics, the paperwork, the diplomacy, the scheming to keep alliances intact—it's already enough to make my head pound."
Her eyes softened as they rested on Arasha, whose posture carried both readiness and resolve.
The young woman was already preparing to act, mobilizing resources, willing to throw herself against the storm again.
Linalee's lips pressed into a thin line. You burned your life away once to save this world, she thought. Saints help us if you try to do it again.
But she only sighed and said, "All right. Tell me everything you'll need."