Chapter 11: The Aftermath

The fortress, in the days following the battle, was a place of uneasy quiet. The air, once thick with the scent of blood and fear, now hummed with a different kind of tension—awe, shame, and a desperate, unspoken question. The shattered main gate was a stark reminder of their vulnerability, and the woman who had single-handedly sealed their victory was now the most powerful, unpredictable force within their walls. I did not return to the tower. That chapter was closed. Instead, I took up residence...