Kingdom and Blood Shadows
The women looked at each other, the gravity of the truth heavy in the darkened room. The flickering flames of the lanterns danced, casting agitated shadows on the walls, as if the light itself was afraid of what was to be said.
At last, Lira emerged. Her silver hair reflected the light, shining like the moonbeams spilling in from outside. Her face was solemn, voice low but slicing through the stillness like a knife.
"Darling… in the kingdom…"
Her hesitation was heavy, her throat constricting before she made herself say the words. "Many things have rocked Reverent. The most significant—Duke Edric Starlight has betrayed us. He sold all of the kingdom's secrets to our foes. And when the treachery was complete, he ruined the Starlight Duchy itself. He burned it down, just as Vellore destroyed our Silver City."
The words hit like hammer blows.
