The night sky hung darkly over the settlement, lit only by the dim glow of hanging lanterns and torches that faithfully flickered at the side of the road. Adora sat by the small campfire, her mind still whirling from her encounter with Daren this afternoon. Her heart was not at ease. The look in the man's eyes, the sly gaze that implied something more than just pleasantries, was seared into her mind.
Several women approached her slowly, their faces looking nervous but their determination stronger than fear. The first to sit beside Adora was Layla, a young woman who was usually quiet and rarely got involved in other people's affairs. But tonight, Layla gripped the hem of her robe tightly, her voice trembling as she said, "You're not the first. Daren is like that."
Adora turned her head qu
