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It doesn’t take long to discern the reason for the group’s arrival at the barracks. My ears perk up as soon as I hear the word “aynauth.”

“Where did you say you were attacked?” a female guard asks, jotting down the details on a piece of parchment.

“On the road to the Furlaskin Ruins,” one of the elven men answers.

“And you’re all accounted for? No one was injured?”

“We’re all here, and there were no major injuries. We have several healers in the group, so we’ve taken care of it. We simply wanted to report the incident,” the man who’s designated himself as the leader says.

“Where’s Pranmore?” Clover asks me as she scans the group.

“Who?” I ask.

“The elf who was there during the vulture attack. I saw him last night in the tavern. He said he was going to the ruins today.”

“I’ll ask.” Stepping forward, I say, “Excuse me. Is there a man named Pranmore in your group?”

The elves look over, politely acknowledging Clover and me. “We didn’t travel with anyone by that name,” their spokesman says. “But there are many who choose to make a private pilgrimage to experience the true peace of connecting and being one with the forest.”

Beside me, Clover makes a scoffing noise under her breath. Thankfully, I don’t think they heard her.

“Do you think he’s out there by himself?” one of the women says, her liquid brown eyes soft with worry for a man she doesn’t even know—so like a Woodmore.

Clover sets her hand on my arm. “He’s going to be connecting with nature in the belly of the aynauth if someone doesn’t go after him.”

“I’m sorry, Commander. We’ve just sent a large team to the east,” the guard says. “But we’ll send someone to the ruins as soon as we can.”

Beseeching me with her eyes, Clover suggests, “You could go.”

“The supply run is already behind schedule,” I tell her reluctantly, torn between my two duties.

“He healed your men after the vultures attacked,” she points out,judgingme.

I give the lady-in-waiting a pointed look. “He also nearly killed me with a stray crossbow bolt.”

Her nose wrinkles with disappointment, and she shrugs. “Fine, go on ahead without me. I’ll go after him.”

I catch Clover’s arm before she gets very far. “You’re not going after an aynauth on your own.”

“So you’ll go with me?”

Releasing her, I glance past the group of concerned elves to the wagons waiting to continue to the guard post.

What would the king have me do?

But I already know—he’d have me save the fool elf, and then he’d decide it wasn’t worth a seal. After all, the aynauths are the true reason I’ve been sent, aren’t they?

I turn back to Clover. “You’re certain he was headed to the ruins?”

She nods.

To the guard, I ask, “How long does it take to get there?”

“Half a day on horseback,” she answers.

I look back at Clover. “All right—but if we find trouble, I want you to hang back.”

“Certainly,” she lies smoothly.