Page 52 of To Fight and To Fold

Aaryn tried to keep up, but the book crushing her ribs made it difficult to pull in a deep breath. Her pacing suffered, but Runa slowed to a more comfortable step.

"Sorry. I guess I'm going soft without Starspark to keep me on my toes."

Runa shot her a sympathetic glance. "I'm sorry he was taken from you. I always thought he was the prettiest, if I'll be honest."

Aaryn beamed at that. "He is, isn't he?" she asked proudly. "Thank you for saying so. When I see him again, I'll be sure to pass the compliment along."

Runa offered her a smile, though it lacked its genuine tilt. Maybe Runa didn't believe she would see Starspark again, but Aaryn still held out hope.

"You're welcome to join me for dinner in my rooms," she said.

"If that is the case, I can think of worse ways to spend the evening."

Aaryn chuckled and imagined she could smell the steamed vegetables and buttery crust from the streets of Evergale.

13

YOUTHFUL WISHES OF YOUNG LOVE

Thea was doing her favorite activities: training, sparring, fighting.

The sun was beaming down on her, and it felt even hotter than usual. Maybe that was because she was putting her all into each placement of her foot, each swing of her staff. Or maybe it was because she was thousands of feet closer to the sun than she had grown used to.

"Yield!" her opponent called, and Thea grinned wickedly as her staff halted an inch from his temple.

Around her, multiple pairs were sparring, and further away, an entire squadron was going through basic movements.

The refugees of Timberscale had vengeance on their mind, and it was partly her job to make sure they weren't going out on the battlefield half-cocked.

Evergale was making enemies left and right, and Thea wondered when their empire would grow too large, become unbalanced, and topple.

She hoped she was still around to see it happen.

As she often did, she pushed away the thoughts that threatened to bring Aaryn to the forefront.

"Thea!"

She glanced up and found a guard standing by the transportation portal, who motioned her over.

"Sorry," Thea said, and waved to her sparring partner. "Catch you next time?"

The druid nodded, and she bounded off toward the edge of the encampment, keeping out of the way of sparring partners, and made her way toward the guard.

"What is it?"

"Rolim’s back!"

Her heart leapt.

Without another question, Thea followed the guard into the runes and let him shift the tile into place, and in a flash she was standing once again in Claw Hold.

The druid did not accompany her because she outran him.

Her boots thumped into the mossy earth as she made her way toward Vaelen's shelter. She knocked and before her knuckles even met the wood for a second time, the door was pulled open.

"In," Vaelen said, and shut the door right behind her.

"Rolim?" she asked, pausing as she finally laid eyes on him.