Seren volunteered one more time, to go and face Corvin.
The border between royal territory and the eastern provinces was marked by a single stone bridge over a narrow river.
No man's land. Neutral ground. Seren stood on the royal side, Kael at her shoulder, a dozen guards behind them. Across the bridge, Corvin waited with his own escort—twenty wolves in matching armour, their swords drawn, their eyes hard.
Corvin himself stood at the centre.
He was taller than Seren had expected, broad-shouldered, with a mane of dark hair and a beard that framed a sharp, handsome face. His armour was practical—leather and chain. His bearing was that of a king. He smiled when he saw her.
"The human queen," he called. "I expected someone... taller."
Seren didn't rise to the bait. She walked onto the bridge, Kael matching her pace. The guards stayed behind.
"Lord Corvin." She stopped ten feet from him. "Thank you for meeting with me."
