On the northern edge of the forest, where Leo, Lucian, Erin, and Duke Alric were sitting on logs with tense expressions on their faces, the glow from the campfire created flickering shadows.
The names scratched in the dirt were poked by Leo's stick. "Velmera and Rin are actually the primary targets of the cult."
The crackle of the fire filled the stunned silence as Lucian and Alric froze. Leo continued, his red eyes fixed on the floor. "The forest mercenaries are not as strong as the thirty people in the camp. They pose a much greater threat."
With shock and rage, Lucian's voice cracked. "Why Velmera? Why Rin? What did they do to deserve this?" He leaned forward, his hands clenched into fists, his gray eyes blazing.
Even though a silent rage burned beneath his tone, Leo's hold on the stick tightened. "They're not interested in their deaths. They plan to capture them."
