ELLIOT

I slipped out through a service door, my senses sharp, leading me toward the woods, staying alert for any spies who might be following me.

Pushing past the tall grass, I quickly reached the spot where a man was already waiting, dismounted from his horse.

"Vittorio, what happened?" I got straight to the point.

"My Lord, I bring news from the south. One of our spies arrived at the border, severely wounded, and delivered a message to the sentries. They rode all night to inform us that our m