Chapter 111

Chapter 111 Esra The first sign came at dawn. I felt it before I heard it—a tremor in the earth's song, a discordant note that made my teeth ache and my fingertips tingle. I sat up in bed, my bare feet finding the cold wooden floor, and pressed my palms against the planks. The vibration was subtle, rhythmic, like the footsteps of something enormous walking just beneath the surface of the world. Through the thin walls of the inn, I could hear the others stirring. Callista's breathing had shifted from the deep rhythm of sleep to the shallow alertness of someone listening. Kaelos was already moving—his boots creaked across the floorboards in the room above mine. Only Marcus and Ruvan remained deeply asleep, their dreams undisturbed by whatever was calling to the rest of us. I dressed quickly and made my way downstairs, navigating the familiar obstacles by touch and memory. The common room was empty except for the innkeeper's cat, which hissed softly as I passed. Animals always knew when t