“I don’t think so,” Taegis replied. “Riveram is small compared to most of the villages along Trader’s Road. We’ll see if someone is willing to give us a room for the night, or perhaps there is a barn we can sleep in.”

A barn? Selene sighed. Well, at least it was out in the open. Much more preferable than the cramped tunnel where they had spent the last day and a half.

“Oh.” Cohen sounded crestfallen. “What about food?”

“I’m sure we will find a meal. The people of Riveram are generous.”

Her stomach rumbled loudly in response. Selene placed a hand along her middle and bit her lip. Did they hear that? A chuckle behind her, sounding vaguely like Damien, answered her question.

Sten looked back at the same time. “Sounds like I’m not the only one who’s hungry.”

Selene gave him a small smile, one he probably could barely see in the dark. At least he wasn’t as suspicious as Karl.

Twenty minutes later, they reached the edge of Riveram. Taegis was right. The village was small. As far as she could tell, there were only a handful of wood homes with thatched roofs. Yellow light from candles shown through small, square windows, providing the only light in the village. Around the homes, slender logs were stacked and tied together with twine and propped up by posts, creating fences around gardens or pens for livestock. A hint of smoke filled the air, and a subtle hum of voices emerged from the cabins.

“It’s been a long time since I was in Riveram, but likely not much has changed,” Taegis said as he came forward. Damien joined Selene on the left. “If it’s the same as it was before, then the place to ask for hospitality is the house on the right. I can’t remember the man’s name, but he acts as the village’s leader.”

Taegis approached the door while the rest of the party stood ten feet away, just outside the light from the house. Taegis knocked. Seconds later, an older man answered. He was bald on top, save for a few strands of hair pulled over his head, and a scruffy beard covered the lower half of his face. His clothes were faded and patched but in good repair. In his hand, he held a knife.

He glanced at Taegis, then squinted into the darkness at the rest of them. “Travelers? We haven’t had any travelers to Riveram in weeks. What brings you folks here and at this time of night?”

“We’re returning to Nor Esen from Rook Castle,” Taegis said, his own hand hovering near the sword at his side.

“Rook Castle? You mean from Ravenwood lands?”

“Yes. In my company is Grand Lord Maris himself. We seek shelter and food—”

“Grand Lord Maris?” The man’s eyes widened as he looked past Taegis and toward the group ahead.

Damien stepped forward. “Yes. My companions and I have been traveling without rest and seek shelter and food from your village. You will be compensated for your generosity.”