I stood by the tall windows of my study, the morning light filtering through the heavy drapes, casting long shadows on the polished floor. The weight of responsibility pressed down on my shoulders like a physical burden, and the news I was about to receive did little to lighten it. The door creaked open behind me, and I turned to see Lady Evelyn and Gareth enter, their faces set in expressions of grave concern.

 

"Your Grace," Evelyn began, her voice carefully measured as she inclined her head in a respectful bow. Gareth followed suit, his posture stiff, as if bracing for what was to come.

 

“Evelyn, Gareth,” I acknowledged, my voice steady though my mind raced with the possibilities of what they might have discovered. “What news do you bring?”

 

Evelyn stepped forward, a small parchment rolled tightly in her hand. “We’ve confirmed Prince Rodrick’s report,” she said, her tone low and serious. “The bodies of the women from the witch clans—those who were reported missing—were indeed not found among the dead.”

 

I frowned, trying to make sense of her words. "No bodies? How did you come by this information?"

 

Evelyn glanced at Gareth before continuing. “I managed to speak with one of the soldiers of lower rank who handles the disposal of the dead. He said that when he and his fellows were piling the bodies to burn, there were no females among them. They noticed the absence but dared not ask questions. It seemed as though it was something they were not allowed to discuss.”

 

My brow furrowed deeply. "And they chose to remain silent? Not even a whisper about this discrepancy?"

 

“It appears so, Your Grace,” she replied. “The soldier mentioned that the atmosphere around the entire operation was tense, as if they were being watched. No one wanted to risk their own life by questioning the orders or the situation.”

 

I felt a chill run down my spine. This was no simple oversight—it was deliberate. The bodies of the female witches were missing, and the men who handled the dead had been cowed into silence. But by whom? And for what purpose?

 

"Whoever orchestrated this has power," I said slowly, piecing the situation together. "Enough power to silence an entire battalion of soldiers and to ensure that no trace of these women is left behind."

 

Gareth, who had been standing silently by Evelyn's side, cleared his throat. “There’s more, Your Grace,” he added, his voice rough but clear. “The witches who were captured at the borders—those who were supposed to be executed—they never made it to the capital. There’s no record of their arrival, no record of their executions. It’s as if they vanished into thin air.”

 

I stared at him, my mind reeling with the implications of what he was saying. "Vanished? How could that be? We have always been meticulous with such matters. Every capture, every execution is documented."

 

Gareth shifted uneasily. “I personally went to verify the records, Your Grace. I checked with the dungeons, the city guards, even the executioners. None of them have any record of the witches’ arrival. It’s as if they never existed.”

 

I turned back to the window, my thoughts racing. This was more than just an oversight—this was deliberate. “So, what does this mean? Are we to assume they’ve escaped? Or is something else at play here?”

 

Evelyn took a deep breath, her expression troubled. “It’s difficult to say, Your Grace. The fact that the information about the missing bodies and the vanished witches is being suppressed raises many questions. Someone is going to great lengths to keep this from being known.”

 

"Or," I added, my voice darkening, "someone is gathering them for a purpose we cannot yet see."

 

The room fell silent, the gravity of the situation settling in. I clenched my fist, the weight of these new revelations heavy on my mind. If someone was harboring these witches, hiding their true fate, it could mean that a larger, more dangerous game was being played behind the scenes—one that could threaten the very stability of the kingdom.

 

“What are your orders, Your Grace?” Gareth asked, breaking the silence. His tone was steady, but I could see the concern in his eyes. He, like Evelyn, understood the precariousness of our situation.

 

“We need more information,” I said after a moment, my voice firm. “We cannot act blindly. Increase surveillance at the borders—no one crosses without thorough inspection. Double the watch on the capital, especially in the areas where information flows freely. If there’s a leak or a network hiding these witches, we need to find it. And I want you both to continue investigating. Discreetly.”

 

Evelyn nodded. “And what of Prince Rodrick, Your Grace? Should we inform him of what we’ve discovered?”

 

I hesitated, considering the options. Rodrick had sent the initial report, but if the situation was as dire as it seemed, it might be better to keep this information close, at least for now.

 

“No,” I decided. “Not yet. We’ll keep this within our circle until we have something more concrete. The fewer people who know, the better. We can’t risk this getting out before we understand what we’re dealing with.”

 

Gareth and Evelyn exchanged a brief glance, then nodded in agreement. They understood the need for caution. “We’ll continue our inquiries, Your Grace,” Gareth assured me. “And we’ll report back with any new findings.”

 

“Good,” I said, though the unease in my chest remained. “And Gareth—be careful. Whoever is behind this has already shown they’re capable of making people disappear. I don’t want you or Evelyn to be next.”

 

“Understood, Your Grace,” he replied, his tone resolute.

 

As they left the room, the door closing softly behind them, I turned back to the window, staring out at the vast landscape beyond the castle walls. The pieces were beginning to come together, but the picture they formed was still shrouded in darkness. And in that darkness, danger was lurking—danger that could strike at any moment.

 

I would not let it catch me unaware.