Odrin had done his best to allow her full independence, particularly seeing as how Amaris was a full reever and more than capable of handling whatever responsibilities the title required. Still, in their moments before departure, he’d run through the list of items with her like a father might for his daughter. How many healing tonics had she packed? What was her weapon count? Did she remember that most body heat was lost through the ground overnight? Had the kitchen given them enough dried foods that traveled well? Did she remember that the church was obligated both to fund and to shelter the reevers whenever they saw them, as they’d long been the firm sword of what was right and good, keeping peace through a constructive hand in a way that was free of the politics of the land? Finally, Odrin had insisted that she take Cobb. The dappled gelding hadn’t really been his horse, after all.

Grem and Odrin saddled two of the broken-in pack horses that had served the keep for many years. Malik and Ash chose the mounts more for riding than for supplies, as the three of them had farther to go and a shorter window of time to get there if the queen was coiled to strike at any given moment. While Samael and the others bade them farewell from the keep, the two traveling parties wouldn’t split until they reached the bottom of the mountain.

Descending the mountain took on an entirely new flavor when she knew she wasn’t about to turn around and run back up again. Every pebble, every step, every gust of wind from the valley below seemed to echo nervous, excited energy. Grem grumbled about his headache for half of the trip down their mountain’s steep slopes and how the summer sun was a hangover’s worst enemy. Amaris recalled her first time walking up the mountain, shoes filled with blood, picking her footing in the dead of night long ago. The trip down the mountain in the morning light was much quicker than her climb up by moonlight had been.

The steep trail began to level as they rejoined the tree line and made their way onto the continent. The path that had connected them to the fortress let off just outside of Stone, stopping near a crop of pine trees and concealed by the backside of a hill from the prying eyes of nearby people.

The groups said their parting words at the trail’s base, with Odrin hemming a bit as they meant to leave. Amaris decided to close the gap for the both of them and threw her arms around the wonderful, good-hearted, bearded man. She tightened her arms around his neck.

“Thank you,” she said, chest tight with emotion, “for everything.”