Return of the General's Daughter

As the last of the crowd dispersed from the street in front of the Justice Hall, Orion cast a glance around before motioning for Alaric and the others to follow him. He led them through a narrow alleyway, its high stone walls muffling the bustle of the city, until they reached a secluded courtyard hidden between shuttered brick buildings. There, with a heavy expression, he handed Alaric a tightly rolled scroll, sealed in crimson wax.

"This contains the names of General Odin’s closest subordinates—his deputy and five commanders," Orion said grimly. "They’re already imprisoned in the dungeon beneath the palace."

He hesitated, lips pursed, as though weighing the cost of what he would say next.

"Their wives and children have been placed under house arrest. They’ll be exiled with them to Fengsel Island." His voice was low, almost bitter. "Some of their kin attempted to smuggle them out of Savadra, but the court intervened."

"What?" Lara’s voice broke through the silence, sharp with disbelief. "Why involve the wives and children? They didn’t do anything." Alaric told her that in Northem, if a father erred, the innocent family members would not be implicated.

Orion let out a long, slow breath. "Unfortunately, the Crown Prince is a paranoid tyrant. Were it up to him, he would have purged their bloodlines entirely. But his ministers and inner council restrained him—reminded him of Northem’s ancient laws and warned him of the people’s wrath if he acted beyond what is allowed by the law."

Orion looked at Lara and added slowly, "So, he decreed that the immediate family of those soldiers should accompany them and be exiled together."

"So, did he really have my mother and sister-in-law captured?"

"Yes," Orion said, nodding. "But Lady Freya is no fool. After your father and brothers were escorted out of Carles, she fled with your sister-in-law, a few guards, and loyal maids. Orion said, nodding. They escaped into Mount Roca."

"I received word just this morning, they’ve joined your brothers and uncle, and a handful of others, in the mountains."

Relief washed over her. She exhaled deeply.