The Silver Crown
Bramrik follows behind me, massive presence carefully contained, every step deliberate.
The panel slides shut.
The mansion seals itself behind us.
For a moment, it feels like a betrayal.
For a longer moment, it feels like survival.
We move fast. The tunnel slopes downward, then levels out, air growing colder, cleaner. No scent trails. No sound carries.
My breath comes hard despite myself.
“Where are they?” I ask again.
Bramrik’s voice rumbles from behind me. “Holding the line.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Elowen glances at me as we walk. “Vaelor and Soryn will stay visible. If Authority loses sight of all four Crown Lords at once, it becomes a crisis.”