CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN - PUBLIC ULTIMATUM

The sense of peace within the ancient walls of the Manse was shattered by the shrill beeping of Karina's phone. She frowned as she checked the notification, her brow furrowing. "It's Nancy," she said, her voice hushed. "She wants to meet." A heavy silence fell over the group gathered in the great hall. John felt his muscles tense instinctively, every fiber of his being poised for the coming confrontation. "What does it say exactly?" Lady Becky's voice was an emotionless rasp. Karina swallowed hard before reading the message aloud. "I grow weary of these games. Meet me at the old silver mine outside town at midnight if you wish to end this farce once and for all." "It's a trap," Gwen rumbled, her words laced with a growl. But Lady Becky was already shaking her head. "No...Nancy may be misguided, but she still clings to an antiquated sense of honor. If she issues a challenge, she expects it to be met." The older woman's gaze grew distant, her eyes clouded with remembered pain. "Sh