Her hair was back in a long braid, and she wore her usual black clothing, complete with her cloak and boots. The icy lady was back, the young woman from this morning gone. She studied him. Her expression was guarded, but there was a hint of thoughtfulness—and something more—in her face. And the circles beneath her eyes from the last few days were gone.

“Sleep well?” he asked as he crossed the room.

She hesitated, then answered, “Yes.”

“Good. I had hoped you would find rest here, in a real bed.”

Before she could answer, Karl stepped inside, along with Taegis and Cohen.

“Cohen and I were able to secure more food and another waterskin. We should have enough provisions to see us to Nor Esen.” Taegis turned his attention to Karl. “Go wake up Sten and let him know it’s time to go.”

Karl nodded and headed for the stairs.

Not long after, everyone was mounted and riding through Rone. Sunlight streamed through the bare trees that grew between the buildings. Leaves of red, yellow, and orange lay scattered across the cobblestone street. Green ivy clung to the stone homes, adding color to the grey. Wisps of smoke rose from narrow chimneys. The air held a cool, crisp feel to it.

As they rode toward the other end of town, men tipped their hats to the party, while women held rugs out of second-story windows and beat the dust from them. Children in faded tunics or dresses laughed and ran through the streets, dogs nipping at their heels.

Damien glanced at Selene from the corner of his eye. She seemed to be taking it all in with a sense of wonder. Her eyes were wide and her lips parted. A little girl in a blue dress with a white cap over her auburn hair stopped beside a tree and watched Selene for a moment, then waved.

Selene hesitated, then lifted her hand and waved back.

Damien brought his horse next to Selene’s. “These are your people now. I hope—no, I believe—you will come to love them as much as I do.”

“They remind me of my own people. I wish . . .” She looked down at her hand and clenched it into a fist.

“You wish?”

She took a deep breath and opened her hand. “Nothing.”

No, it wasn’t nothing. He had heard the passion in her voice. Did she regret leaving her home and her people behind?

Damien stared past Sten to the gate ahead that led northward out of Rone. Of course she did. If he was in her place, his own heart would be grieving for his homeland and people.

Would he have made the same choice she ultimately did? To forsake everything in order to save someone from another house?

He wasn’t sure.

They left Rone and continued along Trader’s Road north toward Nor Esen. The day waned and night came. Camp was made, horses cared for, food consumed, and then the party slept.