Sasha strode swiftly through the dimly lit stone corridor, his mind racing with barely-contained agitation. He had placed Roland in one of the quieter rooms in the western wing of the fortress for privacy, secluded from the rest to maintain discretion. Silas's unexpected arrival had complicated matters immensely. He wanted to take his time with Aylin so that she could understand and trust him enough to tell him about her plans.
As he approached the thick wooden door, he nodded briefly to the guard who stepped aside without question, pushing the door open to reveal a room filled with soft lamplight. Roland sat comfortably at a small table, leaning back in a chair and holding a thick book in his hands. His eyes flashed sharply up at Sasha's entrance, a curious smile tugging at his lips.
