Before Gamlas and Rurik can begin their relentless hunt for the Stranger, a heavy silence falls over them—broken only by the distant howl of the wind sweeping across the barren hills. The weight of what has happened presses on Gamlas like a stone upon his chest. The talisman, the ancient safeguard of their people, is gone. With urgency burning in his eyes, Gamlas summons a trusted rider. “Go,” he commands, his voice low but unwavering. “Ride to the Silver Tower with all the speed the gods will grant you. Tell them the talisman has been stolen—and that I will not rest until the one who dared this treachery is found.” As the messenger disappears into the night, hooves pounding against the earth, Gamlas turns to Rurik. The two men share a single grim nod. The chase has begun, and neither will return until the thief is brought to justice.
