Chapter 48: The recent events and Bran's new reports. Trade increases

If anyone were to see this fortress, they would think it was more like a castle of a noble house than a bandit fortress. This seemingly complex fortress was the home of a branch of the bandit organization—Forest Reavers!

The interior of the main keep is a stark contrast to the brooding exterior. The main hall is a cavernous space, dimly lit by torches that cast dancing shadows on the rough-hewn wooden walls. A colossal stone fireplace dominates one end of the room, its hearth filled with smoldering embers. The air is thick with the scent of smoke, leather, and unwashed bodies.

At the far end of the hall, seated upon a crudely crafted throne carved from a single, gnarled oak tree, is a figure of imposing stature. His broad shoulders and muscular build are accentuated by a worn leather jerkin adorned with crude metal studs.