She smiled kindly. "The master is in the training hall, Miss. I'll escort you."
The master.
God, of course he was.
The walk took longer than expected—down a corridor, through what looked like an old wine cellar turned armory, then finally down a short stone stairwell. It was colder down here. My toes curled against the chill.
Then I heard it.
Bang.
The sound of a gunshot echoed off the walls. Another bang. A pause. Then another.
The maid stepped aside, gesturing for me to go in. I hesitated for a beat, and then stepped through the door.
The moment I stepped into the open hall, the noise hit me—sharp cracks of bullets breaking through the air, followed by the scent of gunpowder and metal. It was a wide, open space behind thick glass walls that overlooked the forest. Sunlight poured in, glinting off racks of weapons and the sheen of sweat on the men inside.
And then I saw him.
