A few knights rushed into the mansion, their steps hurried.
"My Lord!" one of them called, searching for Zayden.
"What is it?" Zayden asked as he returned from the dungeon.
"W-We found this in the forest!" The guard extended a piece of glistening jewelry into his hand.
Zayden's eyes widened. It was the gift he had given Eiran just last night. How did it end up in the forest?
"Where in the woods?!" Ren burst out, panic sharpening his voice. The moment his gaze fell on the anklet, he knew—it was his—and the one Zayden gave Eiran at the banquet.
The knight bowed his head, his voice hurried.
"Near the northern woods, My Lord. Close to the old dragon's lair. The one we…" he paused, sensing the General's glare.
"We spotted broken branches as if someone had forced their way through. There were footprints too—but the rain already washed most of them away," another knight continued.
Ren's breath caught. A dragon's lair? Why there of all places? His fists tightened at his sides.
