Bab 73: Territory

Valerie stormed out of the opulent mansion, her fiery gaze colliding with the imposing sight of a massive crowd of heavily armed guards positioned before her. 

The soldiers, their stoic countenances momentarily replaced with deference, immediately bowed their heads in unison, their voices harmonizing as they offered a reverent greeting, "Welcome, Milady!"

Dismissing their salutations with an air of impatience, Valerie's voice pierced through the tense atmosphere, her words laden with urgency, "Where is she?" Her purposeful strides propelled her towards the left, a sense of determination evident in every step.

A sudden cessation of movement gripped her as her eyes fell upon Nora, ensnared within the confines of a makeshift prison. Bound by ropes, the vulnerable woman stood tethered to a stake, her surroundings composed of brittle grass and parched hay, creating an ominous backdrop that intensified the gravity of the situation.