The chamber reeked of smoke and old wine.
Inside, the man who had pulled Eldoria's strings from the shadows stood over a map.
One of his men entered, head bowed low. Another followed, slower, his face pale with unease.
The first began cautiously, "We… we have losses to report."
The man straightened sharply. "Losses?" "Speak."
The soldier swallowed hard. "Several of our men posted near the palace… they're dead. Killed last night."
The orchestrator's eyes burned. "Dead? Already? Alaric moved faster than we thought."
The second man shifted uneasily, adding, "It gets worse, my lord. Three more are missing. Vanished without a trace. We don't know if they're captured, if they've betrayed us, or…"
He faltered under the weight of his master's glare.
The chamber went still.
The man's hand curled into a fist and slammed against the table, sending a goblet crashing to the ground.
