Rainer

The drive from Carmine Falls to Crimson Peak is long, but we don’t dare stop anywhere except for when we have to get gas. After Lydia’s abduction in Burgundy Bay, none of us know which of our ally territories have been compromised. There’s no relaxing till we reach the border of Crimson Peak. Castle Graystone is a welcome sight after my long, awful adventure, especially my stay at Castle Pestera.

It’s the middle of the night, so sending a message ahead through telepathy hasn’t worked as most of the castle’s residents are asleep, so there’s no one there to greet us at the courtyard. Thomas parks the car, and...