"The Night Market is the epicentre," Kaelus deduced, his tactical mind taking over. "The crowds, the noise, the magical distractions... it is the perfect cover for an abduction ring. Mages utilizing spatial magic, perhaps? Or illusionists?"
"We don't know," Julian admitted, looking defeated. "Our mages can find no residual teleportation signatures. The trail just... goes cold. The perpetrators are incredibly skilled, heavily funded, and completely ruthless. That is why I forbade the outing. If you take her down there, with her striking appearance, in the chaos of the festival... she would be a prime target. Even with you beside her, Kaelus, a single distraction, a single flash-bang spell or smoke bomb, and they could snatch her. I will not add her to the list of the lost."
A heavy, solemn silence fell over the knights.
Sir Lucas lowered his head.
Sir Boris dropped his mangled iron gauntlet to the floor.
The idea of children being stolen was abhorrent to the men of the Bastion.
