The Walker clan stirred uneasily deep within a vast compound carved into stone cliffs, far from the Magical City. The inner courtyard was swept by a chilly wind. The tense air was broken by the sound of wood splintering.
Elder Tom Walker's face was dark with rage as he stood in the hall of judgment. In front of him, a large oak table was in ruins, its broken fragments strewn all over the marble floor like bones. He breathed heavily, and his eyes glowed dimly with suppressed anger.
The guard who had delivered the report knelt on the floor, sweat dripping from his brow. He did not raise his head. The silence after the table's destruction pressed down on him like a boulder.
Finally, Tom's voice broke the silence, sharp as a blade.
"Speak again. Every detail. Leave nothing out."
