After another two days of travel, we finally reached Holver.

  My arms ached from dragging the sled laden with wolf meat, and I was profoundly relieved to be done with it. As soon as we stepped inside Theo’s house, I collapsed into one of the dining chairs, slumping forward onto the table. I longed for a couch or an armchair—something soft and forgiving—but such luxuries simply didn’t exist here.

  “Did you manage to recover your belongings, Illara?” Theo asked.

  “Yes,” she replied brightly. “And some extra meat.”

  “I can see that,” he said, glancing toward the stacked meat and bundled pelts they’d left just inside the doorway. “What are your plans for it?”

  “I thought you could keep the meat and distribute it through the village.”

  I was too exhausted to object. The money would have been useful, but goodwill might serve us better right now.

  “Well,” Faie cut in, “if you’re just giving the meat away, I’ll take the pelts as my share.”

  “Actually,” I said, pushing myself upright slightly, “Illara did all the work dressing the wolves. The fair thing would be to split the pelts at least three ways.”

  Illara shifted awkwardly. “I… think that would be fair.”

  Faie scowled. “Fine. But you should have talked to me before offering the meat away.”

  Theo cleared his throat, mercifully breaking the tension. “Anyone up for a game of five hundred?”

  Faie’s mood flipped instantly. “Yes, please.”

  I, however, had nothing left to give. I stood, moving stiffly, and shuffled toward the bedroom like a corpse animated by stubbornness alone.

  When I woke again, it was morning.

  Illara lay beside me, still asleep. The room was dim, but birds had begun their dawn chorus outside, soft and persistent. I had no idea how long I’d slept—only that my body still felt heavy, pleasantly so.

  I closed my eyes and drew Illara closer, wrapping an arm around her and enjoying the shared warmth.

  “Good morning,” she murmured.

  “I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “Don’t be,” she replied. “I like waking up like this.”

  I hesitated, then spoke. “I think we should try to return to Ravencrest today. But… I think we need Ash with us. As a witness.”

  I felt her stiffen.

  “I’m not sure Ash would be capable of that,” she said carefully.

  “I don’t think our testimony and Norman’s notes will be enough,” I replied. “We’ll need someone who was there. Someone who can confirm the timing.”

  Illara exhaled slowly. “Then we’ll need someone of standing as well. To corroborate Ash’s account.”

  “Yes,” I said. “I think that means Theo. And Cain. And… Jenna.”

  Illara rolled over to face me fully.

  “You know Jenna can’t stand being near you,” she said. “Why would she agree to come? And what about her children?”

  “Norma could look after them for a few days,” I suggested. “She seems more than capable.”

  Illara was quiet for a moment.

  “Even so,” she said, “this will be a difficult thing to ask.”

  “She’ll want justice,” I replied. “I think she’ll come because of that.”

  Illara met my gaze, searching my face.

  “I hope you’re right,” she said softly. “It would be cruel if Norman’s efforts came to nothing.”

  Once the sun had risen, Illara began to stir, and I followed soon after. Theo was already awake, standing by the hearth and stirring a pot.

  “Good morning, Theo,” I said. “We were planning to leave today, but we wanted to ask if you could come with us. You and Ash.”

  Theo paused, spoon hovering over the pot.

  “Would I be needed?” he asked after a moment. “I’m not sure what value I’d add.”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “We need Ash’s testimony,” I said gently. “The people responsible for the massacre of his village are living in Ravencrest. Without him, it may be impossible to bring them to justice.”

  Theo considered that, then nodded slowly.

  “You can ask Ash,” he said. “But don’t pressure him. If he doesn’t want to do this, don’t argue with him.”

  “That’s fair,” I agreed.

  With that settled, Theo returned to cooking. I sat beside Illara and passed the time teaching her the rules of Go Fish, which she picked up surprisingly quickly.

  After a while, Ash and Sera emerged from Ash’s room.

  “Good morning,” Illara said warmly.

  Ash gave a small nod in response.

  “Good morning, Illara,” Sera said, her voice shy but polite.

  Theo served breakfast—wolf stew again. I was starving and finished mine quickly.

  Once we’d eaten, I turned to Ash.

  “Ash,” I said carefully, “we would like you to testify against the people who killed your family. They are in Ravencrest. Your words could help see justice done.”

  Ash’s face went pale, his body stiffening instantly. Sera noticed at once and moved closer, resting a hand on his arm.

  “We’ll be there with you,” Illara said calmly. “You won’t be alone. All you’ll need to do is point them out when asked.”

  Ash swallowed, his expression still tight, but the fear eased slightly.

  “Can I come too?” Sera asked softly.

  I glanced at Illara, then nodded.

  “Yes,” I said. “If you think that would help.”

  Ash nodded as well—small, but firm.

  Illara left immediately with Theo to speak with Jenna and Cain. I stayed behind, watching as Sera spoke quietly with Ash. He responded with small nods and careful hand gestures.

  I hoped—perhaps foolishly—that once his tormentors were brought to justice, Ash might find his voice again.

  About an hour later, the door opened. Theo returned with Cain, Illara, and Jenna in tow. Jenna’s eyes found me instantly, her glare sharp and unmistakable, though she greeted Ash and Sera with warmth.

  “Don’t start,” Cain said quietly, placing a calming hand on her arm.

  “I’ve agreed to travel with you to Ravencrest,” Cain said, addressing the room. “We may not be able to attend the trial itself if it isn’t scheduled quickly, but we can help set the process in motion. And we can return when the time comes.”

  I noticed the packs slung over their shoulders. “So you’re ready to leave now?”

  “Yes,” Cain replied. “And Faie will be joining us.”

  “Good,” I said. “Let’s load the carriage.”

  We used the same carriage we’d travelled in with Norman. Ash packed a small bag, and Sera left briefly to gather her things. Before long, we were all crammed aboard—Cain, Jenna, Faie, Illara, Sera, Ash, Theo, and myself—barely fitting.

  Cain urged the horses forward, and the carriage rolled off at a brisk walking pace.

  Within minutes, the discomfort set in. The bench was hard and unyielding, and I found myself longing for something as simple as a cushion.

  Jenna kept a close eye on me the entire time, tracking every movement with open suspicion. Sitting beside someone who so clearly didn’t trust me was… unsettling.

  “Hey, Drisnil,” Faie said suddenly. “What does a pain orchestra sound like?”

  The carriage fell silent.

  I was keenly aware of every gaze turning toward me.

  “I’d rather not answer that right now,” I said carefully. “It’s no longer part of my life. It belonged to my culture, not to who I am now.”

  Faie clicked her tongue, dissatisfied.

  “How many slaves does your family own?”

  The silence deepened.

  “I wouldn’t know,” I said evenly. “I’m no longer part of my family. They’d kill me on sight if they could.”

  Faie still looked unimpressed.

  Jenna’s hand slid to the haft of her mace.

  “Faie,” Illara said quickly, “why don’t we talk about five hundred strategies instead?”

  It was clear tact wasn’t one of Faie’s strengths. Jenna’s opinion of me had just plummeted further, and the only thing preventing immediate violence was Cain’s presence.

  The journey continued in thick, uncomfortable quiet.

  Then Cain slowed the carriage.

  Ahead, three men stood in the road, clubs resting on their shoulders. Moments later, six more emerged from the trees, grinning.

  They had chosen the wrong carriage.

  Cain stopped well out of reach.

  “Hand over your valuables,” the apparent ringleader called, “and we’ll take some time with your women. Then you can go.”

  Cain smiled pleasantly.

  “I suggest you leave,” he said. “My wife has been on edge this entire trip, and I don’t think you’ll like what happens if she snaps.”

  The man scoffed. “Why are you smiling? Don’t you value your life?”

  While he spoke, I slipped into invisibility and quietly dismounted. The others followed more openly, forming a loose line.

  “It seems your women are ready to surrender,” the man sneered. “At least they’ve got some sense.”

  It was the last thing he said.

  A fireball erupted among them.

  Screams tore through the forest as men burned, rolling in the mud in vain attempts to extinguish the flames.

  “Faie,” Jenna snapped, fury cutting through the smoke. “It is not righteous to kill when capture was possible.”

  “I saw an opportunity,” Faie said, utterly unbothered. “And he failed to treat my brilliance with the respect it deserves.”

  I was deeply relieved I hadn’t been within range of that spell.

  Cain moved quickly, checking the remains for survivors.

  “We should bury them,” Jenna said firmly.

  “Do we have time?” Cain asked.

  “We will make time.”

  So we did.

  Theo, Cain, Illara, and I dug a shallow pit and laid the bodies within it before covering them with earth. Jenna said a prayer over the grave, her voice steady but strained.

  Then we continued on.

  Jenna seemed more frustrated than before.

  And I couldn’t help but think that letting her handle those bandits herself might have been safer—for all of us.