The package arrived at dawn, wrapped in brown paper and tied with coarse string.I was in the main hall, reviewing the morning reports, when a young guard rushed in. His face was pale. His hands were trembling."Regent," he said. "A package came through the border checkpoint. It was left at the outer gate. No one saw who delivered it."I set down the reports. "What is it?""I do not know," he said. "But it is marked for you. And it smells wrong. Old and cold."I followed him to the checkpoint. The package sat on a stone table, untouched. The guard had not opened it. He had not even touched it."Back away," I said. "Everyone, give me space."The guards stepped back. I approached the package slowly. There was no return address. No markings. Just my name, written in ink that looked too dark.I cut the string with my knife. The paper fell away.Inside was a mirror.The frame was shattered, cracked in several places. T
آخر تحديث : 2026-09-10
