"Come out and face me, Magnus of the Dark Fate. Your little scheme with that vile king ends here."
The voice cracked across the courtyard like thunder.
Wilfred stood tall in the moonlight, his blades sheathed at his sides, as the echo of his challenge bounced off the stone walls of the castle.
Dozens of armored knights and cloaked mages turned their heads toward him, uncertain whether to attack or hold their ground.
'This is bad... I do not want to die yet.'
'What should we do?'
'These are the imperial envoys we are talking about.'
The air felt thick, stretched tight as a bowstring, as if the world itself paused to see who would make the first move.
On the far end, Magnus's jaw clenched.
'Darn it... not now.'
His teeth ground together as he glanced at his bare hand.
The rings- those precious protective rings he once relied upon- were gone thanks to Austaire's rampage and Mardonio's rage.
