Chapter 266 The Shadow's Reach

• The journey back to Evermere was marked by an uneasy silence. The encounter with the masked figure lingered in everyone’s minds, a chilling reminder of the growing darkness in Elandor. Ariella found herself unable to shake the ominous energy she had felt during the encounter, and Kaelen’s brooding silence only added to her unease.
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• Upon their return, Lord Theodric was waiting in the Gilded Hall, flanked by other merchant lords. The council chamber buzzed with tension, their previous support for the alliance now tempered by fear of the Shadowcloaks’ power.