He was just halfway down the alley when the air seemed to change. The distant sounds of the village… the laughter, the conversations… seemed to cut off, replaced by a heavy, suffocating silence.
Sol stopped humming and slowed his pace and then stopped completely.
He looked up.
Suddenly, a few large shadows stepped out from behind a stack of drying wood, blocking his path completely.
In the center stood none other than Vurok. He was flanked by four of his usual lackeys… thick-necked boys who looked like they enjoyed pulling wings off insects. Vurok's face was illuminated by a sliver of moonlight, his eyes, the color of dirty river water, fixed on Sol. As a cruel, slow smile spread across his face, revealing teeth stained dark from chewing bark.
But the smile that was meant to be terrifying but faltered slightly when he met Sol's gaze.
Sol didn't flinch or gasp. Instead, a cold, predatory smile curled his lips.
