The village was quiet that evening, save for the rhythmic hum of cicadas echoing through the trees. Fires flickered in hearths, and soft murmurs of conversation drifted from the gathering hall. Serin and her people, now settled in the temporary lodgings assigned to them, moved cautiously through their new environment, their guarded demeanor unchanged but no longer hostile.
Elena stood on the balcony of her quarters, the cool night air brushing against her face. She looked out over the village, her mind restless. The council’s decision to welcome Serin’s group had been a calculated risk, one she still wasn’t sure would pay off. Trust was hard-earned, and the scars of betrayal still ran deep within her and the people she led.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. “Come
