Doran led Talven and Fenna north through the dark, staying off the main road, cutting through brush and broken fence lines instead.
Every sound made Talven flinch, his hand never straying far from his sword hilt.
"How much further to the outpost," Fenna asked, voice hoarse from exhaustion.
"Another day, maybe less if we move even at night." Doran scanned the tree line ahead, old instincts from his years as an officer sharpening despite everything else weighing on him. "We rest an hour, then keep moving."
"I can keep going," Talven said.
"You've been running on fear for hours. That's not the same as strength." Doran found a hollow beneath a fallen tree, gesturing for them to settle. "Rest now. We'll need it later."
Fenna dropped gratefully against the trunk, but Talven remained stand
