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He glanced around, cautious. Then lowered his voice.

“When I got back, I dropped it in casual conversation. No names. Just testing the waters, see if anyone else’d seen or heard him.”

Rollo raised a brow. “And?”

“One of the younger wardens—again, I don’tknowwho exactly, just heard it through a buddy at the tavern—starts talking like Garrick was misunderstood. Like exile was too harsh. Said maybe the Council rushed it, maybe he had a point, maybe—just maybe—he’s not as far gone as folks think.”

Rollo sat up straighter, jaw hardening. “Someone’sdefendinghim?”

Dax nodded grimly. “More than defending. Pleading his case. Like he’s some fallen hero just waiting for a second chance.”

Rollo’s bear bristled under his skin.

“Hechosehis path,” Rollo muttered, voice clipped. “Started testing forbidden spells, talked like the Moonlit Pact was shackles instead of salvation. When he crossed into cursed grounds and came back wrong, we didn’t exile him. Hewalkedout.”

“I remember,” Dax said. “But not everyone does. Some of the new blood don’t know what went down. They just hear pieces. And sympathy’s dangerous when it ain’t earned.”

Rollo stood, pacing the porch. His fists clenched, the wood creaking under his boots.

“The wardens are supposed to uphold the Pact. If he’s got evenonevoice among them…”

“We’ve got a rot starting,” Dax finished. “And you know how it works. Quiet. Creepin’. Dressed in good intentions until it’s too deep to pull out.”

Rollo nodded, jaw set. “I need to find out who. I need names. Evidence.”

“That’s just it,” Dax said, exhaling. “I don’t have names. My buddy—he said he overheard the sympathizing talk, didn’t get a clear look. Could’ve been anyone. Just some Moonlit Ward member over in the supply shed, talking like Garrick was done dirty. But if itwasa warden…”

Rollo turned, eyes dark. “Then we’ve already got a crack in the wall.”

“And if Garrick’s got someone feeding him intel?” Dax added. “Hell, he might not need to knock. Someone might already be opening the door.”

Silence stretched.

Rollo’s mind turned to Delilah, to the healing glow in the greenhouse, to the kiss that tasted like coming home and danger all at once.

He couldn’t let this touch her.

“You gonna tell the Council?” Dax asked.

Rollo hesitated. Then shook his head. “Not yet.”

Dax grunted. “Didn’t think so.”

“I can’t bring this half-baked. Not with tensions already high. I need proof. I need toknow.And I need Delilah out of the blast zone.”

Dax stood, clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, you always did play the long game. But be careful. Sympathizers ain’t always obvious. Sometimes they look like allies.”

Rollo nodded, gaze hardening toward the tree line.

He didn’t know who to trust.

But he knew what he had to protect.

When Dax left, Rollo watched him disappear into the trees.

And then he turned back to the sanctuary, jaw tight, bear pacing in his blood.

Something was wrong inside the town.