Elara’s POV
The courtyard slowly returned to its usual rhythm.
Warriors resumed their training. Steel clashed against steel, boots scraped across frozen earth, and the air filled with the sharp scent of sweat and iron.
But something had changed.
I could feel it in the way conversations lowered when I passed.
In the way eyes lingered longer than before.
Word traveled fast inside the fortress.
Especially among wolves.
Asha dismissed the training ring after my strange moment with the sword, but she stayed close to me as we crossed the courtyard.
Her posture had shifted slightly.
More alert.
More protective.
“You’re attracting attention,” she said quietly.
“I noticed.”
The words came out sharper than I intended.
Several warriors stood near the weapons rack ahead of us.
Their co
