Chapter Forty-three
The first twenty minutes of the hike were awkward. Not painfully awkward. Just enough that both of them were aware of it. The trail wound steadily upward through dense forest. Sunlight filtered through the trees overhead. The familiar sounds of Cedar Ridge surrounded them. Birds. Wind. The occasional rustle of small animals disappearing into the undergrowth. Anything was better than silence. Unfortunately, neither seemed entirely sure where to start. "So," Kael said eventually. Rowan glanced over. "So?" His mouth twitched slightly. "I didn't really think this through." A faint smile threatened. "What gave it away?" "The fact that I've spent the last twenty minutes trying to think of something intelligent to say." That earned the smallest snort. Progress. Kael decided to
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