Tabitha’s pov
Outside, the storm was still howling through the valley, rain lashing against the wooden shutters. I sat on the edge of a bench near the hearth, my hands clutched tight in my lap to hide their shaking. The black blood potion Morgath had forced down my throat hours ago was throbbing violently in my veins, making the corroded mark on my neck burn like an open flame.
The heavy timber door swung open, bringing a blast of freezing wind.
Edith stepped inside, pulling back the damp hood of her cloak. She didn't look like a woman running from a pack. She looked composed, her lips curved into a sharp, bitter sneer as her cold eyes swept over the cramped room.
"You took your time getting here," Fernando rumbled from the strategy table. He stood without his tunic, dark bandages wrap
