Dawn came with the sound of Rowan stacking wood at the fire path and the clear knowledge that they were no longer only watching.
I stepped out of the grove and saw them already at work beside Kael. Dust on their hands. Shoulders set like someone who had decided to stay through the hard parts.
Julian joined me. “They started before the sun.”
“They did. Feels different today.”
We walked over. Kael nodded a greeting and kept working. Rowan looked up.
“I have a request,” Rowan said. “Not for the center to show anything. For permission to ask someone else if they will try a quiet claim with me. I have spoken with one of the water reach people. Their name is Ellis. They said yes to talking. I want to do it the way you taught. Words first. No heat. If it fails I will not run.”
The request s
