Chapter 212 The Siege Begins

• The sun hung low in the sky, casting a crimson glow over Blackstone Fortress. The walls were lined with soldiers, their expressions a mixture of fear and determination as they stared out at the approaching army. The Queen of Thorns had made her move, and the battlefield stretched out like a canvas of chaos, the ground trembling beneath the march of countless feet.
• Ariella stood atop the fortress walls, her healer’s hands gripping the cold stone parapet. Beside her, Raelen scanned the horizon, his face a mask of concentration.
• “They’re disciplined,” Raelen muttered, his sharp eyes tracing the enemy formations. “She’s not leading a band of mercenaries—this is a trained force.”