NARRATOR

Katherine carefully unwrapped it, revealing more as she went. She spread it out over the mattress in front of her.

"It looks like a location, maybe somewhere in the realm," the Duchess examined the finely painted markings and illustrations on the ancient parchment.

The irregular, worn edges gave the impression that it had been torn from a much larger map.

"I don’t recognize this place… Then again, it’s not like I’ve been out much."

"I do," Elliot said suddenly, reaching over and shifting the piece on the pale sheets. "I’ve been here. It’s the mountain pass between the Duchy of Thesio and mine, a grim and dangerous place."

Elliot recognized it from certain details.

"Elliot, look, it seems to mark a path within those mountains," Katherine traced her finger along a red line snaking through the drawing, though it was incomplete.

"That place is too dangerous. I don’t know why, but there are some of His Majesty’s specters roaming around. I barely escaped one," Elliot frowned.

"Then