The second tremor came in the dead of night, tearing me from sleep with a violence that left my heart pounding and my breath caught in my throat. The bed lurched beneath me, the stone walls groaned, and somewhere in the distance, I heard the crash of falling stone.
Kaelen was already moving, his body between mine and the door, his hand reaching for the greatsword that hung on the wall. The tremor lasted longer than the first seconds, stretching into what felt like minutes, the world shuddering and shaking as if the mountain itself were coming apart.
When it finally subsided, the silence was deafening.
"Are you hurt?" Kaelen's voice was sharp, his eyes scanning my face and my body, checking for injuries.
I shook my head, my hands gripping the furs. "I'm fine. The fortress…."
He was already at the door, pulling it open and stepping into the corridor. I followed, my bare feet cold on the stone, my nightdress thin against the chill.
