Tavia knew that was Wesley’s way of saying that he cared and there was no way he was going to accept anyone not jumping at the chance to help his sister.

Saxony took Zekia’s hand in hers. “Come on, little sister,” she said. “Let’s go home.”

Heading down from the bridge and onto the shores that separated Creije from the rest of the Uskhanyan cities, Tavia wasn’t sure what to expect.

But it sure wasn’t Arjun and Doyen Fenna Schulz, followed by dozens of their soldiers, climbing out of a small train, similar to the one the Kingpin had slithered out of.

“Aren’t you all supposed to be in Yejlath?” Wesley asked.

The Doyen’s back straightened. “Yes, well. We defeated Ashwood’s people there. With the help of your Crafters and buskers we … Well, it was a fair fight,” she said, as though she hated to admit it. “We came back with a few of our people to see what had become of Ashwood and if you had been able to uphold your end of the bargain.”

“Consider it upheld,” Wesley said.

“Great, now you will brag about it until the end of days,” Arjun said.

Tavia couldn’t hold back her smile at the sound of his stubborn voice.

“It’s good that you’re not dead,” she told him.

Arjun scoffed, in that haughty and unsmiling way that only he could make endearing. “Grankans do not give up easily,” he said. “We are warriors. We are champions and we—”

“You bored them all to death, didn’t you?” Wesley asked. “Be straight with us. That’s how you won, isn’t it?”

“Don’t be so mean,” Tavia said. “I’m sure that he bored some of them into surrender. Give the guy credit where credit’s due.”

Arjun’s eyes narrowed. “I cannot wait to go back to Wrenyal and never have to deal with you two again.”

Tavia touched a hand to her chest. “You’re saying you won’t miss us? After all the training sessions and late-night bonding?”

“Late night,” Wesley repeated, his eyebrows raised. “How late exactly?”

Tavia wrinkled her nose, just as Karam stepped forward and held out her hand for her childhood friend.

Arjun sheathed his sword and threaded his fingers through hers.

“Are you okay?” he asked her.

She nodded. “Asees is avenged,” she said. “We have gotten justice for them all.”

Everyone in Arjun’s Kin who had been killed or manipulated by the Kingpin.

Everyone in the realms who had died so Ashwood could have more power.

They couldn’t undo it, but maybe they could make the pain a little easier to swallow.

“She would be proud,” Arjun said.