Morning arrived slowly, the pale light
of dawn creeping across rooftops and narrow streets. The city stirred
reluctantly, as though even the sun itself was unsure whether it wished to rise
over a place so heavy with unease.
Jeanne had barely slept.
The events of the previous night still
lingered in her thoughts—the strange attacks, the frightened families, and most
of all, the mysterious stranger she had met in the alley.
She stood beside the small window of
the safe house, arms folded, watching people begin their daily routines below.
Vendors opened stalls, children hurried through the streets with baskets, and
the sound of distant bells echoed faintly from the city square.
To anyone glancing casually,
everything looked normal.
But Jeanne knew better.
Fear had settled into the cracks of
the city like cold fog.
Behind her, Mara was carefully
arranging glass vials on a wooden table. Each one contained a glowing mixture
of herbs and powders that shimmered faintly in the morning light.
"You look like someone who hasn't
slept," Mara said gently.
Jeanne sighed.
"I didn't."
Mara glanced at her.
"Shadows again?"
"Not exactly."
Jeanne hesitated before speaking.
"I met someone last night."
Mara stopped what she was doing.
"Someone?"
"A stranger," Jeanne explained. "He
appeared out of nowhere in one of the alleys."
Eldin, who had been sharpening a blade
near the doorway, looked up immediately.
"You talked to him?" he asked.
"Yes."
"And you're still alive?" Eldin raised
an eyebrow.
Jeanne rolled her eyes slightly.
"He wasn't dangerous. At least… I
don't think he was."
Mara tilted her head.
"What was strange about him?"
Jeanne walked slowly across the room,
thinking carefully about how to explain it.
"He knew about the patrol routes," she
said. "He knew I was organizing the people. But I've never seen him before."
Eldin frowned.
"That's not good."
"I know," Jeanne replied quietly.
Mara crossed her arms.
"Did he say who he was?"
"No."
"What did he want?"
Jeanne paused.
"He said he was watching."
"Watching what?" Eldin asked.
"The patterns."
The room fell quiet.
Eldin and Mara exchanged a glance.
"Patterns of what?" Mara asked.
"That's the thing," Jeanne said. "He
never explained."
Eldin stood up slowly.
"I don't like strangers appearing in
alleys and talking about patterns."
Jeanne shrugged.
"I didn't say I trusted him."
"But something about him bothered
you," Mara observed.
Jeanne nodded.
"Yes."
She stared at the window again.
"He knew something."
Later that afternoon, the streets were far busier.
Jeanne pulled her cloak around her shoulders as she
walked through the market district. Vendors called out to customers, wagons
rattled across cobblestones, and the smell of roasted meat drifted through the
air.
But beneath the normal noise, whispers traveled
quickly.
People were talking.
Jeanne slowed her pace as she overheard a
conversation between two merchants.
"Did you hear?" one man whispered.
"Hear what?"
"The king doubled the city patrols last night."
"Why?"
"Something about rumors spreading."
Jeanne's eyes narrowed slightly.
Another voice joined the conversation.
"My cousin says three guards disappeared last week."
"That's nonsense."
"I'm serious!"
"And you think shadows did it?"
The men laughed nervously.
Jeanne continued walking.
So the palace knew.
Maybe not everything, but enough to be worried.
That was interesting.
Very interesting.
**************
Far above the city streets, towering walls
surrounded the royal palace.
Guards stood at every gate, their armor gleaming in
the afternoon sun. Inside the massive stone structure, the atmosphere was
tense.
King Aldric Varenth stood near the large window of
the council chamber, staring down at the city below.
His expression was cold and thoughtful.
Behind him, General Varric entered the room.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty."
The king did not turn around.
"Tell me again about the patrols," he said.
The general straightened.
"We doubled the guard presence across the city as
you ordered."
"And?"
"Citizens are still talking."
The king's jaw tightened.
"Talking about what exactly?"
"The creatures."
King Aldric turned slowly.
"You saw them yourself?"
The general hesitated.
"No."
"But?"
"Several guards swear they did."
Silence filled the chamber.
The king walked slowly across the room.
"I built this kingdom on order," he said quietly.
"Fear destroys order."
General Varric nodded.
"I understand, Your Majesty."
The king stopped beside a long wooden table covered
with maps.
"But fear can also be useful," Aldric continued.
The general frowned slightly.
"How so?"
The king smiled faintly.
"If the people believe something terrible is coming…
they will cling more tightly to the crown."
General Varric looked uneasy.
"So you want the rumors to spread?"
"Not completely," the king said. "Just enough."
He pointed to several areas marked on the map.
"These neighborhoods seem to be the center of the
disturbances."
The general studied the map.
"They're poor districts."
"Yes," the king replied calmly.
General Varric looked up slowly.
"And the people organizing the defenses?"
The king's expression darkened.
"Yes."
The general understood immediately.
"There's a girl," he said. "Reports say she's been
organizing citizens. Helping them avoid the attacks."
The king sat slowly on his throne.
"What is her name?"
"Jeanne."
The king tapped his fingers on the armrest.
"A young woman gathering influence among frightened
citizens…" he murmured.
General Varric waited.
"That kind of influence can become dangerous," the
king continued.
"Should we arrest her?" the general asked.
The king considered the idea.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because right now," the king said, "she is useful."
General Varric frowned.
"How?"
"If these creatures continue attacking…" the king
said slowly, "the people will look for someone to blame."
The general's eyes widened slightly.
"And when that moment comes," the king finished
calmly, "we will give them someone."
Across the city, Damon stood on a rooftop once
again.
His gaze swept across the streets below.
He watched people moving through markets.
He watched guards patrolling corners.
And he watched Jeanne walking through the crowd.
The markings on his hands pulsed faintly.
The shadows were shifting again.
But something else was changing too.
The balance of power in the city.
And Damon could feel it.
Soon, everything would begin to move faster.