Chapter 20
SOME HOURS BEFORE
Orion sat hunched at his desk in the dim light of the office, the heavy oak table littered with scrolls and parchment. A stack of reports demanded his attention, trades, patrol routes, supply inventories, but his mind wasn't here. His fingers tapped the edge of a page absentmindedly as his gaze drifted to the flickering candle by the window.
The night outside was cold and silent. The only comfort was the faint crackle as he absently flipped another sheet, wishing the tedious chores would drown out the darker thoughts invading his mind.
Brynhild still avoided him, the silence between them growing thick with unspoken grievances. The words from their last argument echoed relentlessly. He hated the distance and resented himself for it. The weight of leadership felt heavier tonight, strangled by a gnawing dread.
A cold shiver crawled down his spine, not from the chill in the room, but the vivid nightmare refusing to loosen its grip.
