บท 136: Give me back my Leora

I sat behind the grand oak desk in my office, the dim light of the evening casting long shadows across the room. My informant, a wiry man with sharp eyes, stood before me, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Have you found anything?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.

"Anything about Leora's sister?" He nodded, a flicker of excitement in his gaze.

"Yes, my queen. We've traced her last known whereabouts to the northern border. There's an enclave there, hidden within the Whispering Woods. It seems she may have sought refuge among the woodland folk." I leaned forward, my interest piqued.

"The woodland folk are elusive. Do we have allies among them?" "A few," he replied.

"But gaining their trust will not be easy. They do not take kindly to outsiders, especially those from the royal court." I pondered his words, weighing our options.