Chapter 12: Shadows of Betrayal

The council hall was quiet, covered in the serious silence of the late hour. Aveline slipped down the corridor, her steps were against the stone floor. Her pulse quickened as she approached Elder Thorne's study, the door standing before her like a silent judge. She had no choice. Too many questions filled her mind, and Gabriel's warnings about Thorne's loyalty had only deepened her suspicions.

She took a deep breath, turned the doorknob, and pushed it open just enough to occupy him and allow his entrance inside the room. The room smelled of aged wood and old parchment. Shelves lined with ancient texts stretched from floor to ceiling, and a massive desk stood at the center, papers stacked neatly on its surface. The faint light of the moon entering through the window cast a slight shadow across the room.