The scream from the east gate reached Kane before the words did.
"Something's coming down the road!" Joren's voice, cracking. "Kane, you need to see this now!"
Kane ran, Talyn a step behind him, boots hitting packed dirt as the gate came into view. A figure was crawling the last stretch of road toward the town, dragging himself forward on one arm.
"That's Drev," Ottilie said, already moving to reach him first.
They got him inside the gate and Senna was there within seconds, kneeling over him, hands moving fast over injuries that told their own story before Drev could speak a word of it.
"Broken ribs," Senna said. "Both hands crushed. He's lost a lot of blood."
"Cael," Drev managed, voice barely a whisper. "Where's Cael."
"He's safe," Talyn said. "He's here."
Drev's eyes found Kane,
