The sun rose pale and grey over Ravenclaw, as if the sky was watching for trouble. The castle woke up slowly and carefully; window covers were closed tighter, guards walked their routes more often, and the smell of burning wood spread through the hallways. Evelyn walked through it all like a quiet shadow — head held high, steps steady — but her hands shook under the smooth fabric. The danger from Shaw Crane had made every moment feel sharp.
"Scouts found a camp," he said right away. "Farther east than expected — but it's their camp. Tents, people on horses, and simple flags with the Crane symbol. They're seeing how patient our scouts are, checking how fast we react."
Evelyn closed her eyes for a second. She remembered the criminals in chains — how they spat and bragged about Shaw's anger. "They want a game of nerves," she finally said. "They want us to make a mistake, to use force without thinking, and then make it look like Ravenclaw started it."
