The ride out of the southern gates of Ironshade began under the cool hush of early light. The castle lood behind them in grim silence, its towers cutting through the silver-blue haze that clung to the mountains like breath on glass. Serena sat tall on the horse Livia had arranged for her, her skirts draped neatly to one side, her hands clenched lightly around the reins. Her heart was a thudding ss under the soft silks that clung to her fra. It was happening.
The Ironshade banner rippled ahead, held aloft by one of the guards in polished gear. The rest of the procession rode in two clean rows, heads high, postures rigid, everything as ticulous as the plan had promised.
Sowhere further ahead, General Silas was riding alongside Darius, probably making his final assessnts of the terrain and the security arrangents. Serena had not caught even a glimpse of him, not his red hair, not the set of his shoulders, not even his voice carried on the wind. The last ti they’d spoken, he’d held her so fiercely in his arms she thought the world might stop. Now, not even a glance.
She blinked it away.
Longdale was an hour’s ride from the main seat of Ironshade. Not quite a village, not quite a fortress, it was a neutral stretch of land nestled between two rivers and dotted with stone remnants of an old mining town that had long since collapsed. It was perfect for the Dawnbreak welco, open and visible, but contained.
As they neared the clearing, Serena caught her breath. Flags had been posted along the low fences, deep crimson and pale silver fluttering together, signaling neutrality. She felt a strange chill at the sight of it, a place stripped of allegiance for the sake of temporary diplomacy. She couldn’t help but wonder if Dawnbreak’s delegation would take it as an insult or a gesture of trust.
"You are not to speak unless spoken to directly," Livia said suddenly, drawing her horse closer.
Serena glanced at her and offered a tight smile. "Understood."
The procession ca to a gradual stop near the periter. Ironshade soldiers moved ahead to prepare the site for their guests. A thick, tense silence fell over the group, the kind that could only co from anticipation.
Serena adjusted the small chain pinned to her shoulder, the only thing identifying her as a representative, albeit unofficially. Her role was still in shadow, but everyone knew she was soone, even if they didn’t say it aloud.
She dismounted carefully, aided by one of the stablen. Her legs ached from the ride, but she said nothing, choosing instead to walk a few paces with Livia as they waited. A few mbers of the council had begun murmuring, casting glances down the road that led through the trees. Serena followed their gazes, and then she saw it.
The Dawnbreak party erged in perfect formation. Their banners were brighter, the crests larger, and the wolves themselves, taller, broader, and dressed in military refinent that was hard to ignore. Serena’s throat went dry. Their lead guard held the Dawnbreak standard high, silver suns on a field of pale blue. Behind them, a sleek black carriage followed, drawn by four horses and flanked by ard riders on each side.
"They brought their best," soone whispered near Serena.
And she believed it.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Livia straighten and step forward. Serena did the sa. The guards fanned out slowly as the carriage ca to a stop. For a long second, no one moved. Then a man dismounted with military precision, clearly of high rank, and opened the carriage door.
The figure that stepped out wore robes of blue and silver, their face shadowed beneath a hood that shimred faintly in the daylight. Serena blinked, no, not robes. Armor. Light enough to wear in formality but real enough for defense. The person drew back the hood slowly.
It was a man. Younger than Serena expected, with chestnut hair cropped close and a striking face. A faint scar ran across his left brow. His eyes, however, were what held her captive, amber, sharp, and unreadable.
The Dawnbreak delegate had arrived.
"Delegate Riven of Dawnbreak," the guard announced.
Serena’s breath hitched. So this was him.
Livia stepped forward with a practiced smile and offered a shallow bow. "Welco, Delegate Riven. On behalf of Ironshade, we thank you for honoring our request for negotiations."
Riven nodded. "We are pleased to et with Ironshade once again." His voice was calm, carefully asured.
The pleasantries began, soft exchanges about the journey, the welco, the scenery. Serena stayed silent, taking in every face that descended from the carriage, every movent of the Dawnbreak wolves. So looked curious, others disinterested. A few surveyed Ironshade’s party with a faint air of superiority. Serena didn’t bla them. Dawnbreak was strong, well-connected, and untouched by the past curses that plagued Ironshade’s na.
Then Riven’s eyes found her. Serena tensed as their gazes t.
Sothing flickered in his expression, not recognition, not surprise, but sothing else entirely. She bowed her head slightly in greeting, and he did the sa before returning his attention to Livia.
He did not speak to her.
After the introductions concluded, the party began mounting again, this ti to ride together toward the Blackthron keep where talks would begin. Serena was positioned near the rear this ti, a little distance from Livia. The woman hadn’t spoken to her since the carriage arrived. Serena didn’t mind. Her mind was too full.
She could feel it again, that tight feeling in her chest, like sothing was going to go wrong. Darius hadn’t spoken to her. Livia didn’t trust her. The Dawnbreak delegate was unreadable. And all around her, wolves were watching.
Still, she mounted again and rode forward, her posture perfect, her smile faint. She had been prepared for this. And even if the plan was built on secrecy and illusion, it was one step closer to healing Ironshade or being the reason for it’s ruin.
As the line of horses trotted through the thinning trees, the sky overhead grew clearer. And in the wind, she could sll it.
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