ROME

The carriage slowed and came to a halt before a wide clearing that appeared just a little past the boundary between Alkarod and Hanaerum.

Their guards dismounted their horses and took watchful positions. The guards were all dressed in black disguises in a material of far less quality than their official Royal uniforms. Not a trace of the Royal insignia was in sight and all distinctly Lycan army weapons were changed to more common weapons. For this night, Rome was a merchant at a slave auction party, and it had to remain that way until the raid.

Rome alighted from the carriage and was about to give Elora a...