Edinburgh Castle rises above the city like a reminder that power rarely stays quiet. Rooted in stone and authority, it watches over a land shaped by conquest, crowns, and uneasy rule.

For Alanis Nightshade—who prefers the sea, distance, and staying far from royal drama—this is exactly the kind of place trouble gathers. In Dark Running, Edinburgh becomes impossible to pass through unnoticed, and the weight of Scotland’s history presses close. Some cities don’t let you keep your head down. They pull you into the storm.