The sun dipped lower as the conversation came to an end.
Golden light filtered through the window, casting long shadows across Lee's house.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Kai sat quietly, staring into his half-empty cup.
Lee stared at the letter.
The same thought seemed to occupy both of them.
Something had killed Elrick.
And whatever it was, it was still somewhere inside the forest.
Eventually Lee folded the letter and carefully tucked it into a drawer.
"I'll keep this safe for now."
Kai nodded.
"Tomorrow I'll figure out how to get it to Akshay."
"You know the king personally?"
Lee scratched the back of his head.
"Kinda."
"Kinda?"
"It's complicated."
Kai was beginning to suspect that everything in this world was complicated.
Before he could ask further questions, a knock sounded at the door.
Three quick knocks.
Lee stood.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A woman entered carrying a basket of vegetables.
She appeared relieved when she saw Lee.
"There you are."
Lee smiled.
"Need something?"
The woman sighed.
"It's the livestock again."
The smile disappeared.
"What happened?"
"They won't settle down."
Kai quietly listened.
The woman continued.
"The cows keep trying to break the fence."
"The chickens refuse to stay in their coop."
"My husband hasn't slept properly in three nights."
Lee frowned.
"Maybe wolves?"
The woman immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Then what?"
"I don't know."
Her voice lowered.
"But something keeps watching from the treeline."
Silence.
The atmosphere in the room shifted.
The woman glanced toward the window.
Toward the forest.