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The six of them trudged along the old road, flanked by strange men and women whose dark cloaks blended with the shadows, led by the enigmatic, flaming-haired woman at the front.

Khalani’s skin itched and tingled as she ventured deeper into the town, unable to shake the unsettling feeling of multiple eyes watching every movement she made.

Serene pressed closer to Khalani’s side, her focus darting between each person and house with a frenzied intensity.

Takeshi walked a few feet away from her.

He held his head high, each step steady and measured, but his gaze continued to harden, flickering between the sharp weapons of their captors and the fortress that trapped them.

The red-haired woman finally halted at the end of the road where two identical yellow houses stood. Unlike the other houses, the fences had a few posts missing, overgrown grass in their yards, and dusty porch benches that creaked and swayed with the wind.

“This is where you’ll be staying,” the woman announced. “Each house has two bedrooms. Divide yourselves as you see fit—”

“We’re not splitting up,” Takeshi interjected sharply.

The woman tilted her head in surprise. “The Desert Spring is large enough to accommodate each of you and provide you all a place to sleep. You’d disregard our generous hospitality?”

“You dragged us here unconscious and won’t let us leave.” Brock scoffed. “I wouldn’t call that hospitality.”

One of the men stepped forward, thrusting a spear toward Brock’s throat. “Watch how you speak to your Chief, Under-Dweller.”

Brock didn’t flinch and regarded the spear like a child’s plaything. “She’syourChief. Not ours.”

The figures around them bristled, and Khalani noticed them lifting their weapons higher. Everyone tensed, but the Chief raised her hand.

“Relax.” The Chief’s voice was unsettlingly cheerful. “He’s not going to do anything, not when he knows we’ll kill his precious tribe if he does.”

The open scorn and hostility in Brock’s eyes could’ve melted steel, but he stayed silent.

“Now, you all can sleep on the floor if you like. Or the grass. Your comfort means nothing—only what you can do for us. But these are the rules you must follow. Do not attempt to climb the wall. Do not venture to the front gate. And donotleave the house at night. If you require anything, Ferren and Jared will be posted outside.”

“We don’t need bodyguards,” Adan said.

“They’re for our protection, not yours,” the Chief replied curtly, turning to leave.

“Wait!” Khalani dashed forward. “What about our friend? When can we see her? How do we know if she’s okay?”

The frantic shaking in her hands grew uncontrollable.

Every second apart from Winnie felt like another shard of her past breaking away, just like the photograph of her parents Dana had torn in Braderhelm.

The unfamiliar houses stood as quiet witnesses to her turmoil.

The woman paused, glancing over her shoulder.

“I’ll let you see her tomorrow. As for her condition…” She looked skyward. “It’s up to the moon goddess now whether she lives or dies.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

The Chief ignored her and walked away, her cloak fluttering behind her as all but two figures followed.

“Wait! Just tell me if she’s okay!” Khalani’s voice echoed into the cool night, but no one answered. Her bottom lip trembled as the words echoed back in her mind.

“It’s up to the moon goddess whether she lives or dies.”

Lives.

Or.