I started toward them when a sudden movement caught my eye. A woman and a young girl gasped and scurried back into a corner, staring at Maz and Aiden in their Shadow-Wolf disguises.
I narrowed my eyes at the strangers. They seemed familiar somehow. But the dirty faces, the limp hair, the plain clothes... The girl clutched a box with holes in it andCaptainscrawled across the side.
My heart dropped to my boots. Helene and Isabel. Lord Garyth’s wife and daughter—the ones I’d helped flee Aquinon. What in the deep, dark, wandering hell were they doing here?
This couldn’t be the friend Nikella had brought them to. It would’ve taken her much longer to get here and back to Aquinon.
Aiden and Maz peeled off their masks and hoods.
“We’re not Shadow-Wolves,” Maz said gently. “We’re with them.” He nodded to the rest of our group.
Isabel relaxed, but Helene’s tired eyes fixed on Aiden. “You,” she whispered. “I wondered if you were still with her.” She glanced at Nikella.
Aiden fidgeted with his gloves, taking them off more slowly than necessary. “It’s good to see you, Lady Helene.”
I couldn’t say the same. I shuffled further behind Aiden and Maz. I wouldn’t be able to hide from them forever in this tiny room, but I dreaded the inevitable confrontation.
The last time I’d spoken to them, they hadn’t known who I truly was. Isabel had even begged me to save her father if I could. But I’d never seen him again.
Nikella had a brisk, murmured conversation with Jek while Yarina and Sigrid tossed down their saddlebags and slumped against them.
I turned my back to the room and slowly sifted through my bags, digging out my blanket and water pouch.
“When did you arrive?” Aiden asked.
“Last week,” Helene replied. “Our situation in the south became compromised. Caddik was always a good friend to Garyth, so I felt safe coming here. Teacher Nikella told me...” Helene took a deep, shaky breath. I tensed, my blanket clutched in my hand. “She told me you were one of the last people to speak to my husband. Did he mention us?”
My heart cracked as Helene’s voice did. Aiden was one of the last people to see Garyth alive? When? Where?
A heavy silence filled the room. Even Ruru’s snores stopped.
I peeked over my shoulder at Aiden’s stiff back. I wished I could see his face, but I could only see Helene’s tearful one.
“He held on as long as he could for you,” Aiden said softly. “He thought Renwell had captured you and your daughter.”
Helene sobbed quietly, holding tight to a pale Isabel. “Was he... was he in much pain when he died?”
Aiden clenched a fist behind his back, his knuckles turning white. “He was relieved that you were safe. He died at peace.”
I felt the lie between his words. But Helene seemed to take comfort from them.
I’d guessed that Lord Garyth was dead, but now I knew for certain. The knowledge carved itself into a wall of names in my mind—of the people I’d known and lost.
“Kiera? Where’s Kiera?” Ruru’s hoarse voice rose.
I squeezed my eyes shut.Gods damn it, Ruru.I rose and walked toward him, where he’d woken and sat up.
“I’m here, Ruru.”
He relaxed when he saw me, but Isabel gasped and hurried over to me.
“Kiera! You’re alive! Look, I still have Captain.” She proudly shoved the box toward me. A thin pink tongue darted out of one of the holes.
I forced a smile at her. “I’m so glad, Lady Isabel.”
Her smile drooped into a frown. “Iknewyour voice sounded familiar. Mama said it wasn’t possible. That I was just imagining things. But I knew I’d seen you before.” She pointed to my brace of knives. “You wore knives like that when you were in my father’s study.”
Everyone in the room turned to stare at us.
