Chapter 53 The Shadow's Grip

• The group journeyed deeper into the southern provinces, the Heartstone secured within a protective satchel carried by Ariella. Its gentle warmth was both a comfort and a reminder of the stakes they faced. Despite their success in retrieving the first relic, an air of unease hung over them. Blackthorn would undoubtedly hear of their actions, and the shadows Eamon warned about felt ever-present.
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• As they passed through the village of Greyshade, the group noticed an eerie silence. The streets were deserted, and the windows of the small stone houses were shuttered tightly. Kael dismounted and knocked on the door of one of the houses.