Chapter 35

Not too far along, Elara suddenly stopped. The air inside the Sentinel ruin had been stagnant, smelling of ancient dust and cold stone, but a new scent cut through the gloom: the copper tang of fresh blood. It was heavy and cloying, localized to a small stone house to her left. She stepped over the threshold, her hand dropping to the hilt of her black steel dagger. Inside, the scene was a mess of splintered wood and gore. Five bodies lay scattered across the floor. They weren't ancient remains;...