The road back to Frosthold seemed shorter than before.
Perhaps it was because the burden upon the travelers had changed.
When they had first arrived in the northern province, they had found hungry villages, bitter nobles, failing harvests, and distrust hanging over every conversation.
Now…
The roads were busy again.
Blacksmiths hammered new ploughshares beneath open workshops.
Children laughed as they chased one another through the market square.
Merchants displayed fresh grain instead of empty baskets.
Life had not become easy.
But it had begun moving forward.
And sometimes…
Hope was the greatest harvest of all.
⸻
As the royal expedition rode through the city gates, bells rang throughout Frosthold.
The sound spread quickly.
“They’re back!”
“The princes have returned!”
“Th
