"...You've concealed the truth from me."

  The sorceress stiffened for a heartbeat, then gave a single, almost imperceptible nod.

  "Then reveal it now." His fury was palpable despite its restraint, radiating through his measured tone. "But I strongly advise complete candor. I require comprehensive understanding."

  Lostya Huggins raised her gaze to meet his directly. "Before that happens, my Lord Duke, you will answer mine." A spark of her accustomed arrogance flared in her violet eyes. "Why specifically did you require my transformation into your raptor? More precisely, what was the true purpose behind this assignment?"

  "I provided that explanation previously."

  "And demonstrated comparable dishonesty then." Her gaze remained unwavering. "If mere surveillance of courier operations was your objective, a sorceress would have been unnecessary—particularly one proficient in metamorphic arts. You warned of potential interference or aggression, yet omitted crucial details regarding the nature of these threats. I believe your knowledge, while incomplete, included certain suspicions. My ignorance encompasses too many variables, Raveirmom. Without the urgency of those circumstances, I would never have accommodated your request. Therefore, you must now disclose your complete reasoning and intentions, after which I shall reciprocate with my experiences."

  "...Negotiation is inappropriate. And testing my patience is inadvisable."

  "Fine. Then let us both stew in our own silence, shall we? Each to our own secrets." She crossed her arms defiantly over her chest and turned her face away, a mask of cold resolve. (Hold. Do not yield.)

  Lostya concentrated on the subtle rhythm of their breathing in the ensuing stillness. "...Our military intelligence has been consistently compromised through undetermined methodologies, precipitating this operation."

  "Why necessitate my impersonation of Aethelwing specifically?" (Victory is yours, Lona.)

  "I required your surveillance of the courier contingent."

  "That explanation remains unchanged from your previous assertion." She tilted her head in skeptical appraisal. "I lack sufficient energy for telepathic investigation."

  She detected the subtle sound of his fists tightening. "Concurrently, I intended for you to serve as provocation, drawing out certain enemy resources."

  "What specific entities?"

  "As you've surmised, my knowledge was incomplete. However, I recognized Cynthia's implementation of highly unorthodox intelligence-gathering techniques."

  "The reality involved wolf packs and bat swarms, Raveirmom. You anticipated these dangers yet willingly sacrificed them as decoys."

  "They understood their potential status as targets. They acknowledged the associated hazards."

  "I, however, remained uninformed," she countered. "My comprehension of our precarious situation only materialized when I observed wolf formations pursuing Ivan Northes's contingent."

  "I express sincere regret. That responsibility is unequivocally mine."

  "Indeed." The sorceress's expression conveyed contemptuous disbelief. "Why burden me with additional documentation? To enhance my appeal as primary bait?"

  "Ivan Northes, Raymond Noytra, and Kendrick Mackenzie—all carried equivalent communications, Lostya."

  "Correct. However, your directive to them emphasized immediate destruction of encoded materials under duress. Yet your instructions to me, Raveirmom Dear," she articulated with deliberate precision, "diverged significantly. You commanded absolute protection of the intelligence, permitting surrender only under immediate mortal threat. Divine entities alone comprehend my consequent suffering!"

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  "My profound apologies."

  "The obligation for contrition falls upon me." Her fingers traced the wound marring her chest. "My failure to anticipate Cynthian awareness that authentic orders resided with an avian courier, while human messengers served merely as diversions, represents inexcusable na?veté."

  The Duke opened his mouth to explain, to argue further, but then seemed to think better of it, dismissing the effort as more trouble than it was worth. "Further exposition is superfluous, Raveirmom. My comprehension is complete. A sorceress's characteristic capability."

  The duke exhibited no discernible displeasure. "That suffices. Your understanding of my operational rationale constitutes adequate resolution."

  "Certainly. If your sole objective was self-justification before your personal conscience, you've achieved thorough vindication."

  Raveirmom Dear disregarded her caustic observation. "The obligation of disclosure now transitions to you." He redirected the conversation. "Did my hypothesis prove accurate?"

  Lostya Huggins responded with a deliberate negative gesture. "It was no mere shapeshifter. Most of those poor souls are victims of a curse; when the beast takes them, their human reason flees. But this assault… this was conducted with cold, calculating purpose."

  "Then perhaps a sorcerer? Someone with metamorphic capabilities comparable to yours?"

  She again indicated negation. "Allow me to contextualize." She adjusted her posture to an upright position, folding her legs beneath her and addressing him with unwavering intensity. "Both control enchantments and shapeshifting disciplines incorporate fundamental limitations: restriction to singular animal manipulation or transformation, requiring practitioners of exceptional mental fortitude. Yet within Wymar Forest, the entity coordinated an entire bat collective alongside multiple dire wolves simultaneously. Even Andafisoma Villy Jerico, universally acknowledged as history's preeminent human sorceress, would likely find such feats unattainable. Consequently, this phenomenon transcends conventional sorcerous capabilities."

  "...Leaving a singular remaining possibility." The sorceress observed him without surprise. "But my knowledge of such creatures is purely theoretical, based on fragments of lore. I cannot say for certain they even exist, let alone whether they command beasts as their servants." He waited, letting the unspoken question hang in the air between them.

  "...They exist." Despite his anticipation, genuine incredulity registered in Raveirmom Dear's expression. "They were undoubtedly our pursuers through Wymar Forest, of this I harbor absolute certainty."

  He sought clarification regarding her conviction. "Because I have encountered them previously," she responded without hesitation. "These supposedly mythological beings have manifested before me personally."

  "Share your knowledge concerning these entities." His tone softened considerably.

  "Their legendary status derives from their exceptional elusiveness. Unlike shapeshifters whose transformations obliterate rational thought, both Wolfkin and Blood Race maintain perfect cognitive control upon reverting to human form, thus avoiding attention through behavioral abnormality. These races typically integrate themselves within human settlements, presenting convincing human facsimiles. Historical documentation of their authentic forms remains exceedingly rare, though Monster Slayers preserve oral traditions concerning their existence."

  "How did your path intersect with theirs?"

  "Through apparent coincidence—though perhaps by calculated design." Lostya exhibited reluctance toward revisiting these particular memories. "The incident occurred in Provi's outskirts, during my apprenticeship under the legendary Dania Lassō. Village residents reported suspicions regarding a potential shapeshifter in their community—one who allegedly transformed into an ursine predator nocturnally, targeting late travelers. They requested either curse nullification or entity elimination, expressing indifference regarding methodology. They had even recruited a Monster Slayer who fortuitously occupied their local inn."

  "A Monster Slayer?" His eyebrow arched in surprise. "Such collaborative arrangements are exceedingly uncommon."

  "Indeed, an utterly catastrophic combination: sorcerer and Monster Slayer. One advocating curse reversal, the other demanding immediate execution. Their irreconcilable methodologies resulted in impasse. My mentor Dania had already developed profound antipathy toward this armor-encased Monster Slayer, yet hesitated to forfeit substantial compensation or reputation. Eventually, she delegated the assignment to me and the Monster Slayer jointly."

  "And this entity diverged from shapeshifter classification?"

  The sorceress closed her eyes, adopting a posture of deceptive comfort against the bed's headboard. "Dramatically so, Duke. We confronted an authentic Wolfkin, whose transformed stature exceeded nine meters in height. The Monster Slayer, without even unsheathing his blade, immediately commanded my withdrawal—while I instantaneously abandoned any curse-breaking aspirations. When the Wolfkin inquired whether I was Dania Lassō personally, I realized our entanglement in an elaborate conspiracy targeting my mentor specifically."