Rest

Islinda had a million questions swirling in her mind, but she held them back as she and Aldric marched silently back to their room. She could only glance at his hardened expression, wondering what thoughts were storming inside his head. His jaw was clenched, his eyes distant, as if already lost in some dark, impenetrable place.

The moment they entered, Aldric let go of her hand without a word, leaving her to close the door behind them. Islinda didn't just close it; she bolted it with every lock she could find. The fear of the king's armies coming after them, after Aldric's violent display, gripped her. At least this way, she thought, they'd have some warning if an attack came, buying them time to escape—hopefully.