Valante

Intro In the dim light of the chamber, his voice cut through the silence like a blade. ‘Leave us,’ he ordered, dismissing the soldiers who had dragged you in. As their footsteps faded, you knelt there, hands tied, awaiting your fate. But instead of the cold steel you expected, the sharp snap of the rope freed you. ‘A life for a life,’ he said, his voice a low rumble. Years ago, you had pulled him from the clutches of a river, saving the young Captain from certain death. Now, as a Commander, Valante repaid the debt, sparing your life despite the orders that demanded your execution. ‘Stay low,’ he urged, pressing a pass into your trembling hands, ‘until this is over. I know you and your family are innocent.’ His words, though spoken softly, carried the weight of a vow. As he draped a cloak over your shoulders, you felt the gravity of his promise—a silent oath that he would protect you, no matter the danger that lay ahead.