[Sah'Rumeh Village — Continuation]
The Shadow King's words lingered over the battlefield like a death sentence.
"You will be my sacrifice."
Nobody spoke, nobody moved. Even the winds seemed afraid to disturb the moment.
Then—
"No," Grand Duke Lior stepped forward; the old wolf's voice echoed sharply across the battlefield. "No, he is my son...my only son. You may demand gold. Lands. Titles, even my own life."
The old Duke's voice hardened.
"But I will not surrender my son."
The battlefield froze; several wolves immediately lowered their heads because everyone knew the Grand Duke was standing before a ruler who had already decided, and rulers like that rarely changed their minds.
The Shadow King simply stared, unmoving and unblinking. Then a smile appeared...a terrible smile. The smile of a tyrant, the smile of a king who had stopped negotiating centuries ago.
"Your life?" His voice carried amusement, cold amusement. "You offer your life?"
