Solma churns the fear in her gut to anger. She glowers.
“You did,” she says through gritted teeth. “And now we know why.”
The Keeper children slink away. Tobias and Jonah crawl into the tent and the girls slope off into the flowers. Taipan and Warren hide behind Solma’s legs. Dyl shakes his head.
“This ain’t what it looks like, Steward—”
“Quiet,” Norsen growls. Dyl scowls but obeys.
The strange old man might not have immediately drawn Solma’s favor but hearing him silenced by Norsen makes her his greatest champion. She lifts her chin, staring at Norsen with defiance.
“We’re from Sand’s End, Steward,” she says. “You heard what happened there.” Norsen says nothing. “My Steward tried to take the bees,” Solma continues. “His greed nearly killed them. When he realized he was gonna lose th
