The Dark Citadel

The eastern sky was just beginning to lighten when Abigail suddenly raised her hand, signaling Gregory to slow down. They had been riding hard for hours, stopping only briefly to rest their horses, and Gregory's body ached with fatigue. His shoulder throbbed constantly now, a dul...

Episode 34: Dawn broke with a pale, misty light filtering through the cabin window. Gregory awoke to find Abigail already up and moving about, her preparations nearly complete. She had changed into traveling clothes—sturdy leather breeches, a linen shirt, and a gray cloak that he...

Gregory held Abigail's gaze, recognizing the dangerous edge in her voice. This was not a woman to trifle with, and certainly not one to lie to. He reached slowly into his pocket, careful to telegraph his movements.

A dull throb in Gregory's shoulder dragged him from unconsciousness. For a moment, he was disoriented, memories of the forest and the bandits swimming hazily through his mind. But this wasn't the cold, hard ground of the cave he'd found. This was... a bed?

The mare's steady rhythm beneath him had lulled Gregory into a false sense of security. The road west from Bridane had been quiet for hours, winding through farmland that gradually gave way to scattered woodlands. The sun had passed its zenith and was beginning its slow descent w...

Gregory awoke to sunlight streaming through the curtains, momentarily disoriented by the soft mattress beneath him. After weeks of sleeping on hard ground, the luxury of a proper bed had rendered him nearly unconscious with comfort. He stretched, savoring the sensation, before be...

The grand dining room of the Halvorn townhouse felt impossibly secure after so many days spent in the wilderness. Gregory savored each bite of the hearty stew placed before him, barely registering the conversation swirling around him until Lord Eldon's voice cut through his reverie.

"A year," Bryce whispered again as they rode away from the village, his face still ashen with shock. "A whole year of my life... gone."

"So what now?" Gregory asked, keeping his voice low as they trotted along the road, periodically glancing back to ensure they weren't being followed. The morning sun cast long shadows across the countryside, and a light mist hung over the fields. "Those men back there... were the...