Chapter65: The Decision of the Council

*Leo* The air inside the old outbuilding is damp and cold, but it’s the only place on Marek’s land where we can be certain no one overhears anything they shouldn’t. I light the lantern on the central table, the flame making shadows on the rough stone walls. Marek shuts the door behind us and bolts it. No one knows we’re here. The silence stretches between us like a taut wire until Marek finally mutters, “We should’ve seen it coming.” My jaw tightens. “We always do.” I grip the edge of the table, trying to will the memory into something more coherent, more explainable, to no avail.  “We were halfway down the ridge,” I say, my voice low. “And then… something changed. Did you feel it?” Marek nods, slowly. “Like the air thinned. Like I was holding my breath.” “The birds went quiet first. Then the wind stopped, and I couldn’t smell anything. I could barely breathe.” “Everything was still,” Marek finishes. “It was like I couldn’t hear anything.” I exhale through my nose, the tension building