The forty-eight hour stand-down period passed faster than Amaron expected.
He spent the first day recovering properly—actual rest, full meals, time with Elian discussing the operation and what campaign deployment would mean. The second day was preparation: equipment review, capacity assessment, coordination with Sareth about strike team composition and tactical planning.
The evening of the second day, he received an unexpected message.
Not through Guild channels. Through a private communication system that appeared in his quarters as a sealed letter delivered by courier. The courier was gone before Amaron could question them. The letter was unmarked except for a seal he didn't recognize—a geometric pattern that looked like stylized rift formations.
He opened it carefully, half-expecting trap magic or similar defensive measures. But the letter was just a letter. Written in precise script on high-quality paper. And the content was—concerning.
Hunter Volg,
