The Serpent's Cipher

Previously

…Lyra hesitated, her brow furrowing. “There are… organizations. Groups who deal in artifacts of power, not for preservation, but for… control. They’re ruthless. And they have resources.” “You’re talking about the Obsidian Hand?” The name itself was a cold whisper, a legend whispered in hushed tones in the shadowy corners of the antiquarian world. Led by a man named Silas Vane, they were a shadowy cabal, rumored to be involved in everything from tomb raiding to assassinations, all in their relentless pursuit of powerful relics. Lyra nodded, her expression grim. “If the Serpent’s Cipher