The fire crackled softly in the dimly lit hideout as Aveline and Gabriel stood before the mysterious stranger. He had shown up from the shadows with information that could lead them to their child if he could be trusted.
"I was once one of them," the man said, his voice steady but filled with regret. "An elder's ally. I saw their rise to power, their machinations. But I couldn't stomach their methods anymore. I've been running ever since."
Aveline narrowed her eyes, her arms were crossed defensively. "And now you want us to believe you're here out of the goodness of your heart? That you suddenly care about our child?"
The stranger met her eyes with his own. "I care about stopping them. If you want your child back, you'll need my help."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a very old map, laying it on the table. His fingers traced a rough line through a section marked with a red 'X.'