Detailed accounts of destruction near Agro Territory. Refugees flooding in. Dukes, barons, minor lords from the southern and western regions abandoning their lands and begging for sanctuary. Entire households arriving with nothing but carts and terrified children.
I paced the room like a caged animal, fingers tangled in my hair, heart pounding. Too many deaths. Too fast. This wasn't political instability. This wasn't rebellion or border conflict. This was something else. "Chubby," I hissed, pulling the little shadow beast halfway out of my pouch. "Tell me what's happening. Don't sugarcoat it."
His ears flattened. "This has happened before," he said quietly.
My stomach dropped. "Before when."
He hesitated—an ominous sign if there ever was one. "Centuries ago. Before Nothingwood Kingdom existed. When this land was still one massive valley."
My breath caught. No.
