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With a choke, Linh let the girl wrap her slim arms around her neck and crush her beneath her body. She wrapped her arms around May’s waist, and squeezed her with all her might, turning her face to her dark-brown hair to take her in.

“May, give your sister some room,” Tahlia demanded as she entered, with her father stepping in behind her.

Glenda closed the door when a bandit, who looked as though he was standing guard, peeked inside. Linh shied away from his gaze, ignoring his presence.I’m being kept here.

She tightened her arms on May, who had started crying with girlish heaves.They’re keeping an eye on me.Did that mean getting the chance to see Nathair was low?

She shook her head and opened her eyes when her mother’s hand patted her hair.No. I’ll figure out a way to convince them to let me see him.

Even if she had to lie and say she’d send him away, she wouldn’t let them trap her in this village.

“We’re so happy to see you’re okay,” her mother said, as she sat down in the chair her father brought closer.

Glenda stood by the door, giving them space, and allowed her chair to be occupied by Linh’s father. May sat on the edge of the bed, refusing to leave her. She took Linh’s hand, and her brows crinkled as she continued crying.

“Are you hungry?” Kai asked. He waved to a board he must have carried in that had a plate, a wide bowl, and cutlery on it. “I brought you some bún bò hu?, since soup will be easiest to get down after not eating for a while.”

It was also her favourite, and one of the few traditional Vietnamese meals her father knew how to make. He was a wonderful cook, and this was his way of showing how much he cared about her.

“Mum and I made you some orange sweets,” May informed her, before she nibbled on her bottom lip. “I ate all the burnt ones.”

Linh huffed a laugh and squeezed her sister’s hand. “How can you be so bad at baking, May?” Her sister opened her mouth, likely with some childish reply, but Linh turned to the side table. “I’d like the soup, to be honest. My stomach doesn’t feel too good.”

The moment she turned her nose towards the beef broth, her mouth instantly watered. Her mother helped to bring the bowl over, and Linh dipped her spoon into it, swirling the fragrant soup.

“Wait,” she rasped, lowering her head to investigate the bowl’s contents. “Is that... are they rice noodles?” She looked up at her father. “How did you get rice? We haven’t been able to get any supply for months.”

There was only one town in the entire northern part of Austrális that could farm it. Due to needing a large amount of fresh, clean water, the eastern area closest to the Demonslayer stronghold, Hawthorne Keep, was the only place that could grow it. The town to the right of the mountains there was the mostprotected, since Demons needed to pass the stronghold to get to it – which the Demonslayers never allowed.

It was a large area with complete sanctuary, but was overpopulated now due to everyone travelling there for security. They blocked anyone from entering it without permits, and they traded rare foods for medicine, coal, metal ores, and basically anything else that wasn’t food related.

Hawthorne Keep had already informed all nearby villages that they would protect it in order to feed the rest of the north, and even parts of the east. The south and west were forced to find other means, since travelling with certain perishables was idiotic.

Rice, however, could be long lasting if stored correctly. With them being in the mountains, they only put in requests for food that would last, not only during travel, but also in storage.

“Bragg is allowing us to trade again,” her father stated, confirming what Glenda had told him.

“Yeah, but you’re terrible at making noodles,” she retorted with a laugh, trying to distract away from the darkening conversation. “Grandpa had to teach me how to make them for you.”

He gave a fatherly, annoyed huff. His lips flattened, and his eyes narrowed at her. She flashed him a knowing smile.

“Eat it while it’s hot,” he demanded, before rubbing his recently shaved face. “All my children tease me.”

“Give your father a break,” her mother warned. “He’s been pulling his hair out and picking at his face relentlessly since you’ve been gone. If he keeps going, he’ll make himself bald.”

“Sorry,” she grumbled, casting her mother an apologetic expression. She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.

Even though it had less chilli than normal, Linh was thankful for that when her stomach grew queasy. Still, she was happy to have something other than plums, berries, and fish.

She appreciated all Nathair had done to feed her, but nothing could beat a home-cooked meal.

Her shoulders turned inwards as she was gawked at by three sets of eyes. She hid away from their stares by letting her hair fall forward, and slurped away at the liquid more than anything else in the bowl. The beef was too heavy for her, the noodles too hard to grip with her shaky hands. She was just pleased the broth was flavourful and had plenty of coriander, lemongrass, and spring onion.

“Is no one going to talk about the elephant in the room?” her mother stated, eyeing her still-pouting father.

“Which one?” he asked, folding his arms as he leaned back. He placed his ankle on top of his opposing knee. “That she’s here, or the fact that a Duskwalker now lingers outside our gates, waiting for her? How about the fact that a Duskwalker had her at all, when she was supposed to be in the main camp, and it looks as if she’s been with it for a long time?”

Her shoulders continued to turn inward at every stern and straightforward word her father uttered.