Hours Earlier
Malvoria stood in the shadows of a desolate clearing, her form hidden beneath a dark hooded cloak.
The disguise was near perfect—her usually striking red hair was hidden beneath a layer of illusion, her glowing gray eyes dulled to a muddy brown. Even her sharp horns were gone, masked with magic. She looked nothing like a queen. Nothing like a threat.
And that was exactly what she wanted.
The courier stood before her, shifting nervously. A wiry man with unkempt brown hair and clothes that reeked of sweat, he kept glancing around as if expecting something to go wrong.
He should be afraid.
Malvoria extended a satchel filled with heavy gold coins, watching as he greedily snatched it from her hands.
His fingers trembled as he checked the contents, counting quickly, his lips moving in a silent tally.
"It's all there," Malvoria muttered, forcing her voice to sound rough, common. "Now where's the girl?"
