The sound lingered in the cracked theater long after Kael’s footsteps faded.
Carla had already buried her face against her arms, refusing to look at anyone.
Lyra was still awake, of course, golden eyes gleaming with wicked amusement as she watched the wolf tremble in her chains.
Crimora sat against the wall, silent, hugging her knees like if she stayed small enough she might disappear.
Elias cursed under his breath from outside, the scrape of his rag against stone rough and angry.
–––––––––––
Life in the ruined stronghold fell into a strange, chaotic rhythm after that.
Elias became the errand boy. He didn’t mean to. It just… happened. Kael barked orders, and somehow Elias was the one scrubbing dried blood off the cracked stone, the one hauling splintered wood to patch walls, the
