Jules unfurled the massive, heavy parchment map across the large oak table, carefully placing polished crystal weights on each of the curling corners. The map detailed the sprawling, arid geography of the Amber Kingdom, stretching from the vast southern deserts all the way up to the treacherous, jagged peaks of the northern mountain ranges. The flickering firelight in the study cast long, dancing shadows across the drawn topography, making the illustrated mountains look incredibly imposing.
Raven leaned forward, his dark eyes scanning the complex network of valleys and high-altitude passes. He placed a steady finger on a densely shaded region near the very top edge of the map.
