The knight ignored her. “But Talaras can run without me. He’s done it before.”

Janel considered the matter. She turned to the fireblood. “Is that your wish?”

Talaras tossed his head and stamped a foot, and it seemed obvious that it was.

She nodded. “Fine. If Arasgon is to come with—”

Talaras snapped at Arasgon, who replied with obvious anger. Talaras stood his ground but looked ready to start a fight.

“We’ll be fine without you,” Janel told Arasgon. “We’re taking the elephants with us. Besides, someone will need to lead Pocket Biter and Cloud to Atrine when you’re finished. We’ll meet you there, when we know the townsfolk are safe.”

Arasgon didn’t look like he believed her, but he pranced a few steps, blew air out his nose, and turned to join his brother.

Janel picked up a bag from the ground. “Come, then. The same advice Gan gave Tamin applies to us as well. Let us put as much distance as possible between us and this town by nightfall.” She turned to Ninavis. “If you would be so kind as to show us the way.”

“Should have made that bastard Tamin heal my leg before he left,” Ninavis mused. Then she turned to the elephant keeper. “Sana, think one of your girls will let me ride up top?”

A middle-aged woman looked up. “A wee slip like you? Tishar won’t even notice.” She smiled, a forced expression that didn’t hide her tears.

“Let’s get this herd moving,” Count Janel said. “We’ve a lot of ground to cover before it grows dark.”

The red-orange sun set as they headed toward the tree line, where they planned to stop for the night and make camp. Twilight turned the blue-green skies a burnt vermilion.

Adrenaline carried the townsfolk through the first few hours, but the horrors they had witnessed and the people they had lost began to sink in. The refugees had fallen into silence. A few were in tears. They stared at the camphor and cedar as if the forest were a lake after an eternity crossing a desert.

If they made it to the trees, they would be safe.

Ninavis and her crew were in their element. They directed the elephants, made sure able adults carried children on their shoulders, and patrolled the small convoy’s edges to prevent unexpected surprises from sneaking up on them. They did it all with smiles and jokes, singing songs about their wonderful adventure, kidding the elderly about misspent youths. They made it almost possible to forget the horrors they left behind.

Almost.

During this, Brother Qown noticed Count Janel had wandered off to the far side of the group. She walked by herself, maintaining a steady distance from the others. Dorna, who was helping the children, hadn’t noticed.

But then Dorna’s responsibilities didn’t include seeing to the count’s emotional and physical healing. Qown’s did.