“A spell to puncture the tires and freeze the soldiers was enough to bring them all to a stop,” Iannis continued. “We found the children in the back of one of the vehicles, bound and gagged, and completely isolated from the escapees.” His eyes flickered toward the hill. “I must check on those wards—”

“I’ll go,” Elnos said, stepping forward. “I’ll take Rylan with me as backup.”

Rylan arched a brow. “I’ll be useless if it has anything to do with the wards.”

“Yes, but you’re handy with a blade,” Elnos said, glancing to the short sword Rylan had strapped to his hips.

“True.” Rylan got to his feet, then stretched his arms overhead. “Try not to miss me when I’m gone,” he said to us, winking at Annia with a roguish grin. Noria gave him a murderous glare as he turned away, and I held in a sigh.

Fenris got up too. “I’ll patrol the area around our camp to make sure there are no surprises.” He slipped away, no doubt to change into wolf form in the forest.

“I’m going to bed,” Noria said, standing up. She stalked away toward the sleeping area, though the effect was somewhat diminished by the fact that her hands were restrained, and disappeared inside Annia’s tent.

“I suppose I will go and rest as well,” Iannis said, though it was clear he still didn’t feel comfortable taking any downtime right now. “But someone needs to watch the children.”

“I will,” Annia said quietly. The firelight flickered in her sad eyes, and my heart clenched in sympathy. This was supposed to be a happy reunion, a triumphant moment, but it was anything but.

“I’ll join you in a few,” I told Iannis, laying a hand on his forearm.

Understanding lit behind his violet eyes, and he nodded quietly before striding off to his own tent. Iannis and Fenris had brought several more, so there were enough for everyone even if the clearing was rather cramped now. Rylan and Elnos were headed to the compound, so there was no one but Annia and me as I sat down next to her by the fire.

“I’m sorry things have turned out this way.” I put an arm around her shoulder and hugged her, careful not to hurt her injured arm.

“It’s not your fault.” Annia let out a heavy sigh as she leaned into me. “I always knew Noria might spurn me when Elnos and I arrived to rescue her. She came here willingly, even if she didn’t know exactly what she was getting into.”

“And she left willingly too.” I glanced over at Annia’s tent, where Noria slept now. I doubt she could hear us from so far away, over the crackle of the fire, but I lowered my voice anyway. “Though I imagine she’s wondering how she can escape her restraints and run off.”