Gran Hesta grumbled about kids not respecting their elders anymore, then winked at Rynna, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes.
Fenn ignored them both, focusing on the map. “It looks like we need to follow this tributary of the Great River for maybe two or three days. It’s hard to tell.”
I guess so.He ignored her, as usual, as if the moment in the barn had never existed.
Rynna leaned in, trying to control her annoyance with the man. “Hmmm, so why isn’t Fallowmere clearly marked? We don’t want to just stumble onto the bandits.”
“Excellent question, my dear,” Gran Hesta interjected, shooting a pointed glare at Fenn.
“Because, Rynna.” Fenn glanced up as the rest of the unit joined their huddle. “The independent territories between the Reaches are often not considered when making things like maps. Their borders change with every conflict, and their villages, often caught in the crossfire, are left to fend for themselves while the Reaches negotiate treaties.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Gran Hesta snorted. “We pay for most of your precious missions, but since we aren’t Hollow-born and have no Source power, you don’t give a rat’s ass what happens to us.”
“We’re not all like that,” Elara squeaked, her voice small.
Gran Hesta’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it looked like she was about to unleash a tirade on the girl. Her lips parted, her face hardening, but before she could speak, Fenn intervened.
“There are enough people among the Reaches who think this way, Elara, to make life difficult for non-Hollow-born villages.”
Elara’s brow furrowed, her hands twisting together nervously. “It can’t be that bad…”
“It is,” Taren said quietly, his words drawing surprised looks from the group. His face remained unreadable, but there was a tension in his posture, his arms locked over his chest.
“Go on.” Guide Fenn turnedto him.
Taren hesitated for a moment before speaking, his nose crinkling. “Their food and homes get taken for our armies, and their villages become battlegrounds. We protect our own, but they’re left to pick up the pieces. We’re not always the good guys, no matter what the Ember Warden says.”
“I don’t believe it.” Elara looked around the group.
Rynna glanced at Taren. She knew his parents had been branded traitors and executed when he was small, which explained why he was always so serious and dedicated to his training.
What’s his full story? she wondered, not for the first time.
“It’s not…untrue,” Fenn said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Elara’s shoulder. “But we haven’t had a war of that scale in over forty years, and Ember Reach has made many changes since then.”
Taren turned his head slightly, his jaw tightening, but he remained quiet.
Gran Hesta gave the boy a small nod. “At least some of you young ones see the truth. Perhaps things will change in the future.”
“They will,” Bran said, his wide eyes full of serious resolve. “You have my word, Granny.”
The old woman gave a respectful bow before turning and walking down the path Fenn had pointed out earlier.
They hiked for most of the day, their footsteps taking them into the wetlands that stretched between Pulse Reach’s towering forests and the wide, open plains of Tide Reach. The air grew thicker as the landscape morphed into sprawling marshes.
When the sun hung low in the sky, casting long, golden beams that slanted through the trees and hinted at the approach of late afternoon, Fenn finally stopped them.
“This is a good place for camp,” he announced.
“But we’ve got a couple more hours of light,” Bran protested, his voice edged with weariness as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “We could make it there before tomorrow.”
“It won’t do us any good if we arrive exhausted,” Fenn replied, his tone firm. “The bandits may not have Source power, but there’s still too much we don’t know. It would be unwise to reach them and not be ready for a fight.”
“But…” Bran started.
“He’s right, kid,” Gran Hesta said, sinking onto a nearby rock with a weary sigh. “As much as I want to get there as soon as possible, we’d be putting the people at more risk if we show up unprepared.”
“If you say so.” Bran shrugged off his pack.
