Afternoon sun filtered through the windows of the Hartwell estate's sitting room, casting an intricate pattern of light and shadow across the polished wooden floor.
Alex sat comfortably in one of the plush chairs near the window, with a cup of fragrant tea cooling on the small table beside him and a book open on his lap.
The book detailed common anecdotes from across the state, nothing profound but pleasant enough reading material.
A quiet afternoon with a good book, decent tea, and blessed silence.
Peace. Simple, uncomplicated peace.
Alex should have known that it would never last long.
The first sign of trouble was the sound of rapid footsteps in the hallway.
Alex's eyes came off his book just as the sitting room door flew open with enough force that it banged against the wall.
Nathan literally stumbled through the doorway.
"Brother Alex…!" Nathan gasped, his words coming out between heaving breaths. "Brother Alex!"
