The castle had gone still. The others were gone, off into the restructured wilds beyond the safe edge of Mae’s presence. And for the first time since arriving in this place, really arriving, it was just Mae and Riven. The silence wasn’t awkward. It was, whole.
They sat on one of the high balconies that looked out over the horizon. From here, the world looked almost normal. Soft blue sky. Gentle silver hills. Streams that glittered like glass and moved like thoughts.
Mae had wrapped herself in a shawl made of strange, soft fibers the castle produced, like it knew she needed comfort. Riven brought food. Simple. Leftover supplies warmed and dressed up with stolen spices from Sethis’ stash. He even made her tea. Or something like tea. It was floral and warm, and it made her chest ache in a s
