“Um . . .” She thought for a second. “The girjastu should be good.”

Dagny stepped out and started directing the dazed survivors. “I’ll take you down to the girjastu.” Then she turned to Noomi. “Come with me and help me get them safe and comfortable.”

Noomi knew her way around here, and Dagny wanted to keep an eye on her, I’m sure, so it made sense. Dagny didn’t ask me to join her, but she probably knew I wanted to be here, watching and waiting.

Pan had gotten split up from us a while ago, but I hadn’t let myself think about what he might be doing or if . . .

Finn I saw first, and he hugged me tightly—hard enough that it hurt. When he released me, I noticed his red-rimmed eyes under the amber torchlight.

The only time I had ever seen him look this shattered was after his sister died, but this time he was all bloody and banged up like he’d been in a car wreck.

“Go, rest while you can,” I said.

He didn’t say anything. He only nodded and then moved down the hall, shuffling like a weary zombie. As survivors continued down the stairs, most passed me by without saying anything—like Sumi with her head down and an injured Jennet. They just followed Dagny’s voice, directing them to the girjastu with promises of water and blankets.

Tove went by very slowly, until he saw his sister, Sunniva. Then they both ran at each other and hugged. He had dried blood in his ears, and Sunniva cried when she got a good look at him.

I was waiting in the doorway to the armory, and Bryn paused as she reached me. Her arms were covered in both scars and fresh wounds, and sweat left trails through the blood and dirt staining her arms.

“Glad you’re safe,” she said, and that’s when I went in for a hug. She let me hug her, but her arms hung limply until she finally squeezed me back.

“I knew you’d be okay,” I said. “You always are.”

She coughed and pulled away from me. “Right now, I need to get something to drink.”

“Yeah, go,” I said. “I’ll see you in the girjastu soon.”

At least that’s what I hoped. The more time passed without seeing Pan, the more anxious I became. The survivors were trickling down slowly, but there really weren’t that many.

The Trylle Queen and King descended the stairs, and right behind them, Pan was helping Rikky down the stairs. I ran over to them, and I wanted to embrace Pan and cover him in relieved kisses, but Rikky couldn’t stand on her own, so I swooped in and put my arm around her.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as we walked down the hall.