C254 THE NOTICE SENT TO A KING

Dawn in the Blood-Fed Kingdom did not arrive gently.

It arrived with bells.

Three of them.

One for each prince.

Aria stood in the courtyard when the first bell rang. Servants were already moving, carrying ledgers, sealed notices, and travel cloaks. No one looked at her directly, but everyone knew she would be walking into one of the sectors today.

The elder had announced it clearly