Chapter 13 The Council Of Shadows

• Deep in the heart of the capital, far from the royal palace and its gleaming halls, stood an old mansion. Its towering arches loomed like forgotten sentinels, and flickering torches lined the walls, casting long shadows that danced like specters. The air inside was damp, heavy with age and secrecy. This was no place for light—or truth.
• Two figures stood within the main chamber. One man, dressed in a plain gray coat, stood rigid with his hands clasped behind his back, his face half-hidden in shadow.
• “She is a threat,” he said flatly, his voice carrying the sharpness of conviction. “The girl influences him. He’s softer now. Hesitant. Distracted.”