The investigation of the weapons forge had been productive, if disturbing.
They'd found evidence of human collaboration – tools left in specific patterns that could only have been intentional signals, guard rotations that had been deliberately weakened, supply manifests that showed someone had known exactly when the forge would be most vulnerable.
Seria had documented everything with military precision. Elara had blessed the site and spoken with survivors, gathering accounts that painted a picture of calculated assault rather than random violence. Damien had examined the patterns, the tactical choices, the intelligence requirements.
All of it pointed to what they already suspected: organized conspiracy with deep roots in imperial systems.
They'd returned to the capital exhausted, filed their initial report with Lady Cassandra, and retreated to their residence as evening fell.
