We rode for the border territory at first light, a full unit surrounding us, Elder Mira and Ronan close at the front, Morgan's mother released under strict guard to accompany us, since leaving her behind now carried its own risks.
Elara rode beside me in silence for the first hour, the frost-like marking on her wrist hidden beneath a long sleeve, though I noticed her glance toward it more than once when she thought I was not watching.
"You do not have to hide it from me," I said quietly.
"I am not hiding it," she said. "I am trying not to think about it. There is a difference."
"Is it working," I asked.
"No," she admitted, almost smiling despite everything. "Not even slightly."
We rode in comfortable silence for a while after that, the forest thinning gradually into open plains as we
