The knock came before dawn.
Thornak stirred, the deep rumble of Jax's growl already vibrating in his chest before he even opened his eyes.
"Sire," came Dain's voice from beyond the doors, firm, urgent. "You are needed. It's Ashmoor."
The heavy doors to his war room were open, and inside was Kael, Ruvan and a scout kneeling before them. Blood still stained the boy's shoulder.
"The message was scrawled on the outer wall in blood."
Thornak's eyes narrowed.
The scout's voice trembled. "We... we lost a third of our numbers in the night raid, my king. There was no sign of entry, no breach of the gate, nothing… and then chaos."
"And the message?" Thornak asked, voice like stone grinding on steel.
The scout lifted his chin. "Three words, sire. 'I am waiting.'"
The room was quiet. Even the fire in the hearth seemed to lower its breath.
Thornak's gaze swept the map. "Then we answer."
"Shall I call the riders?" Dain asked.
Thornak nodded once. "We ride at first light."
He turned to the others. "Sharpen your claws. Whoever dares touch Ashmoor has called down a storm and I will give them one."
Jax howled in approval, a low, rising sound that promised blood.
At the exact same time in Lara's chambers... She was stirring in her sleep.
In her dream she stood barefoot in a place that did not exist in the waking world, a forest of trees that had turned black, their trunks twisted and carved with glowing runes. The air was thick.
Shadows curled between the roots, but above, the sky glowed with a soft purple light. A breeze stirred the leaves, though no wind blew.
Then came a low and undeniably ancient voice.
"Ashmoor is a trap."
Lara spun around quickly. "Who's there?"
No answer, only a steady force of unseen power in the air, pressing against her skin like a heartbeat.
Them the voice came again.
"He walks into the snare of the dead."
From between the trees, a faint shape began to form. A woman, tall and shrouded in silken light, her eyes gleamed like twin moons. Her presence stirred something in Lara's blood, an echo, a memory of a sort.
"Who are you?" Lara asked, her voice barely a breath.
The figure stepped closer. "He must go to the Vale of Thorns."
"Why?"
"Because that is where truth hides, and where the shadow dares not linger long."
A howl shattered the air, and then... Everything was still.
She gasped awake. Her heart pounded hard and sweat covered her skin though the air was cool. She sat up slowly.
"Ashmoor?" she murmured aloud. "Where is Ashmoor?"
She'd never heard of it. No one had spoken its name around her. And yet, the warning clung to her mind like the scent of smoke in her hair.
What if it was real? A vision. A true warning.
Or…what if it wasn't?
What if someone was in her mind?
Lara stood, pacing across the stone floor barefoot. Her thoughts spiraled. Why would she dream of a place she doesn't know? Unless something, or someone was pushing it into her head.
And if she told Thornak? Would he even believe her? Would he think she was insane, or worse, lying?
The knot in her chest twisted tighter. What if the enemy is using me and I don't even know it? What if I'm being used to lure him away? Wouldn't that be exactly what they'd want?
Her hands curled into fists. She couldn't just ignore the dream.
She pressed a hand to her chest, where her heartbeat echoed like a war drum.
Thornak was in danger, she could feel it.
....
A day's ride if we press hard," Kael said, tapping the eastern path. "But they'll expect us to take the main road."
Thornak stood over the map with Dain, Kael, and Ruvan flanking him, their voices low as they plotted the route to Ashmoor.
"We'll go through the western ridge," Thornak muttered. "Surprise will be to our advantage."
Just then, a guard stepped into the chamber, pausing at the threshold. "My king… Lady Lara requests to see you. She says it's urgent."
"Now?"
"Yes, sire. She insisted."
Thornak straightened slowly. "Send her in."
The king held up a hand as the guard turned to leave. "No. Take her to my private chamber. I'll meet her there."
Kael raised a brow, while Ruvan looked to Dain, who answered with the faintest shrug.
Thornak turned from the map and left the war room without another word. When he entered his chamber he paused.
Lara stood near the fire, arms wrapped tightly around herself, her silhouette bathed in amber light. She turned at the sound of the door, her eyes meeting his.
Without a word, he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.
He leaned back just enough to look at her. "You're trembling. What is it?"
She opened her mouth, then closed it again, eyes darting to the floor. Her fingers clutched the fabric of her sleeves. He didn't rush her. He simply waited.
"I… I don't know how to say it without sounding insane," she murmured. "I had a dream. It felt like a dream but also like a vision. Like something… was reaching out to me."
"Tell me everything."
Lara took a breath, looked up and narrated the dream. Her voice trembled and she looked away quickly.
"I know how it sounds," she added. "But that was the dream I had and it felt real."
Thornak stepped back, visibly taken aback. His jaw tightened as his eyes searched hers, as if trying to see deeper than what she was saying.
The Vale of Thorns was ancient and half-swallowed by time. It was a place even seasoned warriors avoided. There were twisted trees, long abandoned shrines. And how will she possibly know about Ashmoor.
He studied her, saw the fear in her eyes, fear not of the dream, but of how he might take it.
Her voice held no certainty, only truth and that was rarer. It struck him like instinct, and he'd learned long ago to trust it.
"I believe you," he said.
Then he stepped forward and gently took her hands in his. "You did the bravest thing by coming here," he said. "You trusted what you felt, even when you were afraid."
She hugged him tightly.
....
"We alter our movement," Thornak said back in the war room. "The main force rides to the Vale of Thorns."
Dain blinked. "What?"
Kael stepped forward. "With all due respect, brother, why the Vale? There's been no movement reported from there. Nothing to suggest..."
"I'm aware," Thornak said, cutting him off gently. "But the enemy wants us focused east. I believe the real danger lies in the Vale."
Ruvan frowned. "Based on what?"
Thornak didn't answer at first. His jaw tightened slightly.
"Intuition," he said at last. "And a feeling I can't ignore."
The three men exchanged uncertain glances. Dain spoke again, cautiously. "You've never led us with guesswork, Thorn. But then, what about Ashmoor?"
"We send a scouting party. Five at most. I want eyes there, but no engagement unless absolutely necessary." He looked to Kael. "Pick your fastest riders. They leave now."
No one argued after that. But the room remained thick with tension.