Shadows of Allegiance
The early morning light had barely begun to seep through the workshop windows when Eleanor's modifications to the Crystal egg were interrupted by an urgent knock. Her hands were deep in the delicate circuitry, makilng adjustments that she hoped would shield the device from external interference. She quickly secured the device in its hiding place before calling out, "Enter!"
Jim burst through the door, his face pale with urgency, his normally neat appearance disheveled from what she assumed was a sleepless night. "Your Majesty, we have a situation. Edward Montgomery was seen entering the Crimson Towers late last night. Our surveillance teams tracked him through three different security checkpoints."
Eleanor's hands froze over her workbench, her tools scattered across its surface like abandoned chess pieces. "What was he doing there? The Towers are supposed to be locked down after midnight."