Chapter 222 The Threat Emerges

• Lyell
• The dimly lit alley was a far cry from the grand halls of the castle. It stank of damp earth and decay, the air thick with tension. I stood with my back to the wall, keeping my eyes peeled for any movement. Meetings like this weren’t unusual for me, but the stakes felt higher tonight. Too much was at risk, and the feeling gnawed at the back of my mind that one wrong step could set off a chain of events I wouldn’t be able to stop.
• The faint shuffle of footsteps echoed in the distance, and soon a figure emerged from the shadows. Cloaked and hooded, my informant moved with the kind of caution that came with years of experience. He approached me silently, his eyes darting to every dark corner, as if expecting an ambush.