Page 210

There was a beat of silence, then Veyr said, almost gently, "I don't think Lia is involved anymore. She was only a tool."

All eyes turned to Dain who seemed unbothered. "It's fine as long as we can keep an eye on her."

"But there may be someone feeding them information," he added looking at Seren, "Someone in our midst. And that someone can be a danger to Seren"

Seren met his gaze without blinking. Her voice was calm, sure.

"Then we just need to be smarter."

As the fire burned lower and the meeting began to scatter into silence and exhaustion, Renna stayed seated, her arms folded tightly across her stomach, eyes fixed on the flickering embers.

She hadn't spoken since Hagan mentioned the ashes. Kastor, who was her closest sibling, watched her from the corner of his eye, his hand still resting on her knee. He was worried. Renna was never this quiet.

As the others began to rise and stretch, murmuring about weapons drills and sleeping shifts, Renna stood abruptly and made her way toward Hagan, her steps quick and tense.

"Hagan," she said, trying to keep her voice level. "Can I—"

But then she stopped, mid-step. Her breath hitched. Her eyes filled with pain.

Hagan turned fully toward her, already moving before she swayed. "Renna?"

She pressed a hand to her mouth, eyes wide with sudden fear. A shudder passed through her and she doubled over, retching onto the floor just beyond the heath.

Kastor was beside her instantly, but Hagan got to her first, one hand at her back, the other steadying her arm.

"She's burning up," he said sharply. "She was fine this morning."

Kastor's face had gone pale. "She hasn't eaten much. I thought it was stress."

"No," Hagan said, already lifting her gently into his arms. "Something's wrong."

Renna didn't protest. Her head lolled against his shoulder; skin clammy.

"Let’s get her to the quarters," Hagan said, voice clipped but steady. "Kastor, stay with her. I'll send for the healer."

Kastor didn't argue. He was already clearing the way, his mind racing too fast to speak.

Seren, from her place by the door, caught the look on Hagan's face—tight with worry, jaw clenched like he was holding back the urge to break into a run. Renna had changed beyond recognition from the young cheerful girl to a shadow of her former self. Seren had thought it was the trauma of her father's death, but this was more. As she made to follow him, Threk called out to her.

"Seren, I need a favour."

Chapter 80

The evening had settled soft and gold over the treetops, the hum of distant conversation from the longhouse fading into the chirr of insects and the low rustle of the wind. Seren stood near the tree line, hands resting on her hips, as she was about to follow Hagan to the healer's building. Threk walked up and stood beside her, unusually quiet.

He was rarely still. Always moving, talking, teasing—fidgeting with some stick or stone or thought. But now, he stared out into the darkening woods like they might whisper something back.

Seren nudged him lightly with her elbow. "Alright. Spit it out."

He blinked, startled from his thoughts. "What?"

"Something is bothering you."

Threk scratched the back of his neck, then looked down at the dirt.

"I've been thinking," he said finally.

She waited.