6The sun had completely sunk behind the rooftops of the city.
The last reddish rays slipping through the inn window slid along the wall and gradually faded. The room darkened. Only the small oil lamp on the table burned dimly, stretching long shadows across the space.
Zaber finished his meal and sat on the edge of the bed, slowly clenching and unclenching his fingers. His breathing was steady, his heartbeat low—yet his mind remained fully awake.
"Tonight…" he whispered. "It is at night that many things reveal themselves."
The kitten lay silently beneath the bed, its ears occasionally twitching. The bees inside his inner pocket were completely still—as though they, too, sensed the tension hanging in the air.
Zaber stood.
He tied his hair back once more, but paused for a moment to glance at his reflection in the mirror. Even in the dim light, the graying strands were clearly visible.
He slung his sword across his back, dressed, and left the room.
