Page 73 of Salt Between the Wolves

The bond refused to cooperate.

A strange hollowness had begun to settle beneath it, as though the connection stretched further than it should.

The sensation made no sense because Eira remained in Ironfang, and where else would she be?

The thought arrived with immediate certainty, yet the unease persisted.

Soren first attempted to ignore it and then attempted to explain it.

Perhaps she was upset, perhaps she had isolated herself again, or perhaps the fortress itself had become difficult for her.

Perhaps she had finally decided to accept the possibility of leaving.

That last thought lingered longer than the others, and he disliked it immediately, not because it seemed likely but because it seemed impossible.

The very idea of leaving felt absurd.

Where would she go when the mountains were dangerous even for experienced hunters, and when she had no allies beyond Ironfang, no destination, and no reason?

The idea was so unreasonable that he dismissed it almost as quickly as it appeared.

The bond shifted again, and this time the sensation resembled distance, though not physical distance but something deeper and far harder to define.

Soren's jaw tightened.

The feeling followed him through the remainder of the morning, and by midday he had grown noticeably shorter with everyone around him.

Questions received brief answers, observations received grunts, and conversations died quickly.

Eventually Kael guided his horse alongside him.

For a time neither spoke before Kael finally asked, "Something wrong?"

The question sounded casual, almost careless.

Soren answered without thinking.

"No."

The word left his mouth automatically, but a moment later he realized it was a lie, not because he understood the problem but because he couldn't stop searching for it.

Kael studied him for several seconds before looking away.

Neither spoke again as the mountains rolled past around them and the patrol continued west.

Somewhere beyond the horizon, unnoticed by everyone except the bond that refused to fall silent, the distance between Soren and Eira continued to grow.

Mara hadn't intended to visit Eira that morning.

The decision came almost by accident. Over the past weeks, she had developed a habit of checking on her without admitting that was what she was doing, not often enough to invite conversation but often enough to reassure herself that Eira was still there, still enduring, and still moving through the fortress one difficult day at a time.

The thought lingered with her as she climbed the stairs leading toward Eira's rooms.

The corridor was quiet, as most of Ironfang had already begun the day's work. The patrol had left before dawn, hunters were preparing supplies for the coming week, and the fortress had settled into its usual rhythm.

Mara reached the door and knocked.

When no answer came, she waited a moment before knocking again, but the silence remained unchanged.