Phoebe's POV
The moment I stepped off the ship at Ashford Pack's harbor, the atmosphere hit me like a physical wall.
Terror.
It hung in the air so thick I could taste it. Every person we passed—dock workers, merchants, even children—moved with the careful precision of prey animals aware a predator was near. Their eyes darted away the instant they spotted Perry, as if meeting his gaze might be their last mistake.
But this wasn't the respectful fear I'd seen from his own people. This was raw, bone-deep terror that spoke of recent conquest and blood still fresh in their memories.
"Don't stare at them too long," Timothy said quietly as he appeared beside me. His voice carried an unusual heaviness. "I've tried to establish rapport with some of the locals, but they react like cornered animals every time I approach. It's... heartbreaking, honestly. Pushing only makes their panic worse. Better to give them space to adjust."
