After a brief rest and refreshments, Leonard Matgorat and his retinue ascended to the mayor's office on the upper floor of the modest administrative building.
Inside, Mayor Lysandra Halweir stood from behind her desk the moment Leonard entered, bowing in a gesture of respect appropriate to his status.
"Lord Leonard. I trust your accommodations were acceptable."
Leonard gave a minimal nod. "They were. Let's proceed."
Lysandra gestured toward the seat across from her desk. "I've prepared the latest reports on Ginip's condition."
"We'll discuss that later," Leonard replied flatly, taking the seat. "First, I have a more urgent question."
He opened the folder his father had prepared, scanning a set of parchment notes. Then his eyes lifted to hers.
"What do you know about the witch said to live in the Blackroot Forest?"
There was a moment of silence.
Lysandra did not show surprise—but her fingers paused briefly over the stack of papers before her.
