Pre-dawn.
The sky just beginning to lighten from black to deep blue.
Roshan was back on watch, having taken over from Nyx two hours ago.
Both of them too wired, too alert, too aware of the threat that had literally smiled at them and promised to return.
Roshan stood, stretching muscles stiff from sitting, and decided to do a perimeter check—not because he didn't trust the sentries, but because he needed to MOVE, needed to DO something other than sit and wait and think about purple eyes watching Faelyn like she was prey.
He moved silently through the pre-dawn darkness, checking guard positions, scanning the forest edge, looking for anything out of place.
And found it.
Near the clearing edge where the metalworking had taken place.
A small object on the ground, deliberately placed, not hidden, left where someone checking the perimeter would find it.
Roshan crouched, studying it before touching.
A carved wooden token, maybe three inches across, circular.
And on its face...
