The eight remaining Hollow Court members arrived at Vaelthorn the following morning looking as though they had spent the night being escorted through a silver forest by Oryn’s people, which they had.
They ranged from a young man who could not have been much older than me to an elderly blood witch who had the expression of someone who had made a decision she had entirely committed to and was now sitting in the consequences without apparent regret.
They sat in the great hall in a loose group with the specific energy of people who have done something they believed in and are waiting to find out the cost.
I sat across the long table from them.
Caelan was beside me. Maren and Aine, in her new capacity as bridge keeper, stood to one side. Thessaly and Oryn ranged behind.
“You damaged ninet
