Everyone settled back into their chairs. The rustling of Liri's cookie wrapper stopped. Rylen leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his expression shifting from playful to attentive.
They waited for the other shoe to drop.
"So," Seraphina began, lacing her fingers together on the table. "I am sure you all have heard about the strange stuff happening in the city these days?"
The room filled with a collective, solemn nod.
"Hard to miss," Rylen muttered. "Saw a patrol of City Watch arrest a guy near the bagel shop yesterday just for shouting nonsense."
"My father mentioned increased security protocols at the gates," Liri added, her voice low.
Everyone nodded in agreement... well, everyone except Kael.
