"Your Majesty, several nobles are requesting an audience," Lucius began, his voice calm but tight, as he held out a crisp bundle of parchment filled with wax-sealed letters. "They claim the rogues are becoming increasingly bold in their attacks."
Heinz let out a long, tired sigh as he took the stack of papers, scanning the requests with a flicker of annoyance passing through his crimson eyes. The dim golden sunlight filtering through the tall windows did nothing to ease the weight that had been pressing on his shoulders for days.
"My men have already captured two rogue groups," Lancelot added, standing tall and rigid with his arms clasped behind his back. His tone was clipped, military. "But most of them took their own lives before interrogation. Some sort of fast-acting poison. We were too late to stop it."
Heinz's hand stilled on the paper. His eyes narrowed.
