Chapter 174: Unexpected Passion

The fire crackled softly, the only sound breaking the heavy silence that hung thick in the air. Alistair stood bathed in the warm glow, her beautiful features etched with a mixture of pain and newfound resolve. Lucian, his heart heavy with empathy, waited patiently, a silent promise of support hanging in the air. "They were...different," Alistair finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Men, certainly, but not like any I'd ever seen. They spoke a harsh, guttural language, and their attire was unlike anything the traveling merchants bring to these parts." Lucian leaned in, his gaze intent. "Can you describe them? Any details, no matter how small, might be helpful." Alistair closed her eyes, picturing the horrors of that night. "They were tall," she began, "with dark, close-cropped hair and hard eyes that held no warmth. Their skin was tanned, almost leathery, and they wore dark, heavy armor that seemed to swallow them whole." As she spoke, a chilling realization dawned on Lu