Kali’s gaze drifted from Liori’s sincere expression to Faye, then Aer, before finally settling on Elle’s eager face. She glanced over her shoulder at the group of knights she commanded, ensuring they remained well-occupied. Then, with a final, resigned chuckle, she turned back.

“Fine. But any trouble we get into,” she said, her voice dropping conspiratorially, “you four are to blame.”

“Deal,” Aer quipped, exchanging a wink with Faye.

The sky blazed in brilliant hues of red and gold, painting the rippling water with streaks of flame. Sea birds circled above, their calls punctuating the steady bustle of the docks below. This was far from Kali’s standard patrol route. Their footsteps echoed on the well-worn planks as they approached the lower docks. The busy outpost office was beneath rickety wooden awnings, where all documents were processed for ships entering or leaving Elindoryl. Usually, a half-dozen officers would patrol the perimeter, but on this balmy evening, the security seemed oddly lax – no immediate guards were visible. Perhaps the shift was changing, or everyone had let their guard down at the day’s end.

They ambled along with easy laughter and banter until Kali’s smile faded. She’d noticed several figures cloaked in unremarkable brown robes striding purposefully toward the foreign merchant’s carrack docked at the far end. A large, sturdy ship called The Silver Horizon should have been under tight guard after its unexpected arrival. Yet the cloaked visitors boarded without challenge. Kali’s gaze roamed the pier, searching for any posted knights or Thornbound members, but found none.

A pang of alarm seized her, and she stopped walking, voice dropping to a grave hush. “Hold on,” she said, scanning the wharf. “That ship and its crew were supposed to remain aboard until permission to leave was granted. Where are the assigned guards?”

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No one had an answer. The group’s earlier mirth drained away as they, too, realized the unusual stillness around the docked carrack. Kali’s expression grew resolute. She reached for her silver helmet, setting it back onto her head with a metallic click. “I’m sorry, ladies,” she said, her tone suddenly formal. “I’ll have to cut this visit short. I need to investigate.”

Elle, stepping closer, peered down the pier. “Why?” she whispered, though her pulse quickened. “What’s wrong?”

Faye’s excitement flared immediately. She’d never been one to shy away. “Let’s all go,” she declared, boldly stepping forward. “I noticed those cloaks, too. Who wears hoods and full robes around here? We have nothing to hide in Elytheris; it’s suspicious.”

Aer found herself nodding. “We can keep Kali company,” she suggested, matching Faye’s pace. “No one said she couldn’t have friends while doing a quick check.”

Despite her disciplined nature, Kali struggled to hold back a smile at their insistence. She half wanted to admonish them for plunging into danger.

“Fine,” Kali managed, clearing her throat. She set off at a brisk stride, plate armor catching the fiery reflection of the setting sun. A moment later, she walked ahead and was already projecting the steady confidence of a captain leading a charge.

Trailing a short distance behind, Liori let out a wistful laugh. “Oh my, we’re kids again,” she mused, recalling how often they had scrambled through gardens or corridors on impromptu escapades.

Elle brought up the rear, hesitating. Something in her gut twisted at the sight of the foreign vessel’s tall masts swaying against the dusky sky. A nameless dread tugged at her mind; the ship’s looming silhouette felt eerie, like a threat materializing at the edge of her vision. Steeling herself, Elle forced one foot forward, then another, the skirts of her tunic swishing around her ankles. The breeze off the water ruffled her cornsilk hair, carrying the faint brine of Herawulf’s tides.

Gathering her courage, she drew closer to her friends. The silhouettes of the hooded figures vanished up the gangplank, and Kali squared her shoulders, determined to find answers. The sun dipped lower, casting elongated shadows across the weathered boards. The wind picked up, and a shiver ran through Elle, not from the cold but from the undeniable feeling that something strange was about to unfold.