Chapter 148 - A King's Peril, A Husband's Fight

The air hung thick with tension as our group moved deeper into the fortress. Every shadow concealed potential danger, every sound a possible alarm. My heart raced with both fear and desperate hope—Alaric was here, alive but cornered like a wounded lion.

"Dawn assault," I whispered to Cassian, the information we'd overheard replaying in my mind. "We have hours at most."

He nodded grimly. "We need to locate His Grace and the King immediately."

We climbed higher through narrow stone passages, guided by instinct and the sound of distant voices. Twice we ducked into alcoves as small patrols of Blackwood's men passed, speaking confidently of victory come morning.

"Where would you make your final stand?" I asked Cassian as we paused at a junction of corridors.

His weathered face turned upward. "The northern tower. Defendable position, single access point, good sight lines."

"Then that's where Alaric would go," I said with certainty. "Especially protecting the King."