Chapter 5 - TRAPPED IN THE SPIRE
"Fascinating reading, isn't it?"
Lord Vane himself walked into the vault, dressed in rich velvet robes trimmed with sable fur, flanked by Voss and six heavy crossbowmen.
"Alistair," Vane said smoothly, resting his hands on a silver-headed cane. "You were an exceptional investigator. It’s a pity your curiosity exceeded your survival instinct."
"You're committing treason, Vane," Alistair said, stepping in front of Marlo and holding up the signed ledger. "You're crippling the Empire's defense grid for personal profit."
"Defense grid?" Vane sneered. "The Empire is weak. The southern syndicates pay ten times what the Crown offers for living war-creatures. And breaking their wings first... well, that makes them much easier to control, doesn't it? Pain is a remarkably effective leash."
Marlo’s blood boiled. "You killed my sister!"
Vane looked at her with mild indifference. "Ren Ashdown? Ah, yes. She caught on too early. She tried to report the wing anomalies to her commander. Her 'accident' was a regrettable necessity. And now, history repeats itself."
Vane raised his hand to order the guards to fire.
Marlo didn't hesitate. She threw an incendiary ether-vial—stolen from the stable supply kit—directly onto the dry parchment stacks between them.
May you like
A wall of blue flame erupted instantly, blinding the guards and filling the room with thick black smoke.
"Run!" Marlo screamed.
