A quick flashback…
Weeks after Rowan had been confined to the Eastern Palace, strictly prohibited from stepping beyond its walls while his health and the political climate remained precarious.
During that time, Zalyric summoned his most trusted vassals and the commanders of the four military divisions one by one. It was not a public announcement, nor a grand meeting but a private selection of who would become Rowan's personal protector—
the one who would guard the man destined to become the second most powerful figure in the entire Evadene Kingdom.
Inside the grand yet dimly lit council chamber, Zalyric sat on his throne with an expression carved from ice and authority. His gaze swept over the gathered commanders. Finally, it rested on Dylan as someone who served as his sword, shadow, and the knight who served him directly.
