Tepesh and Dallion reached Lupos before dawn.
They did not use the main road, though. Tepesh guided them through old hunting paths and abandoned farm trails that had not seen proper use in years.
Neither of them spoke much.
Dallion was barely conscious anyway. His burns had blackened further, and every few minutes, his body trembled as if the holy fire was still eating him from the inside.
Tepesh looked better. He was mostly healed now, as he had managed to expel most of the holy mana from his body.
By the time the sun began to stain the horizon, they passed through one of the hidden entrances beneath Lupos.
Luther Vael'thorr was waiting.
He stood in the center of a private chamber beneath the estate, dressed as perfectly as always. Not a single strand of silver hair was out of place. His expression was calm, his hands folded behind his back, but the air in the room was heavy, cold, and dangerous.
Tepesh dropped to one knee at once.
