Ronin slipped away in the morning before Thea woke. She’d been comfortable, lying in his arms throughout the night. Despite her strength and resilience, it was nice to feel protected every once in a while. Being captured by the Bandits had shaken her confidence, but she had returned to Ronin and a sense of home and solidarity.
She stretched out in the morning before there was a shake of the canvas door, and a pointed cough. Thea slid from the bed, realising that she hadn’t changed out of her travel strained and dirty clothes. She grimaced, promising that she’d wash up and change her clothes before starting the ride home.
It was Marius at the door, grinning from ear to ear. Curious, Thea slipped her feet into her boots. Pausing to pull out a thorn that had worked its way through the thic
