The city's streets were noisy, but Kael's footsteps were silent.
He'd just walked out of the Raven Merchant Guild's Ginip branch, fury coiled tight beneath his skin. The meeting had been polite—on the surface.
But underneath?
This is bullshit.
They knew too much. Way too much.
And Kael knew exactly what that meant.
He didn't head for Kaelmart.
Instead, he turned into the narrow alleys and side streets that twisted through the city's edge.
He was heading to the slums.
This part of Ginip had always been rough. Poor. The guards didn't come here, and most people stayed away unless they had no choice.
It used to be ruled by Red Morn—brutal, feared, and untouchable in these parts. After his death, the power vacuum hadn't stayed empty for long.
Now, people whispered a new name.
Vera.
She hadn't filled Red Morn's shoes entirely, but she'd gathered what was left of his crew and carved out a piece of control. Enough to matter. Enough to be dangerous.
