Inside, the fire crackled low, casting long shadows across the marble floor. A samovar steamed on the table between two armchairs, and beside it, a plate of dark bread and pickled herring sat untouched.

The door did not announce his arrival. It simply opened, and there he stood—tall, armored, a silhouette against the dim hallway light. The Captain of the Fatui Harbingers filled the frame like a storm given form, his greatcoat dusted with snow that melted into tiny, glistening beads.