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Riding down the slope into the valley, they made their way through smaller tents, what she could gather were residential, then passed larger ones.

Giant pots were positioned on top of fires, the scent of earthy broths twirling into the air on steam.

Large racks held meat up to cure, and a workbench had been set up for carving.

A man was already busy with skinning and cutting up a deer, while another table nearby was covered in a dusting of flour. A woman stood over it, kneading dough.

As they navigated their way through the sea of tents and busy locals, she kept her eyes peeled for someone she might recognise. They veered past wagons stacked with blankets and what she presumed were bags of grains. Several men were unloading the goods and piling them on the ground.

“Can you see them?” Adelina glanced over her shoulder at Damir.

“Not yet,” he said. “Keep going.”

They weaved their way through the bustling camp until a voice called out .

“Miss Orlova!” an all too familiar voice said. “Oh, thank the gods you are okay.”

Adelina turned to face Natasha, a wide smile spread across her mouth. Her apron was dirty, and her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows.

Jumping down from her saddle, Adelina threw her arms around Natasha’s shoulders, bringing her into a tight embrace. “It’s so good to see you.”

“And you, miss.” Natasha beamed.

“Do you know where my parents are?” Adelina took Natasha’s hands in hers. “Can you take me to them?”

“Oh, of course!” Natasha’s eyebrows skyrocketed. “You’ll be glad to know they’re quite fine. They are also in the company of one Mirelle Litvin and one Jasen Litvin. Damir’s parents, I presume?”

Adelina spun to face her husband as he slid down from the saddle.

“Are you sure?” he said on an intake of breath.

“I’m definitely sure.” Natasha gestured for them to follow as she set off at a quick pace. “They’ve got a little girl in their company, too.”

Adelina traded glances with her husband. Holding hands, they kept up with Natasha as she rounded a corner.

“Here. Tether your horse to the post. This is where we keep them.” Natasha pointed to a space of flat grass, dozens of posts poking out from the mud.

Fingers trembling with excitement, Adelina fastened the reins to the post, took their bags from the saddle, then returned her attention to Natasha.

“I found your parents not too long after arriving here,” Natasha said. “Most of the tents hadn’t even been erected by that point, so I managed to secure one close by.”

Natasha came to a halt in front of draping canvas flaps. “Are you ready?”

Nodding, Adelina’s heart lodged itself in her throat, and she held her breath as Natasha pulled back the fabric.

Inside, there wasn’t much beyond the necessities: blankets, a wooden table, bags. And her mother.

A sob broke from Velinka’s mouth when her eyes fell upon Adelina.

Abandoning her knitting— knitting?— Velinka dashed to Adelina and crushed her to her chest. “Oh, my sweet girl. It’s been weeks.

We had no idea what had happened to you, and all sorts of dreadful thoughts went through my mind, but your pa and I, we refused to believe anything bad had befallen you. We had faith you’d return to us.”

“And we did.” Adelina clung to her mother, breathing in the lingering scent of rosemary clinging to her skin.

“Where’s Pa?” Adelina asked, finally letting go.

“Oh, don’t worry, dear, he’ll be along any minute.

” Velinka wiped the tears from her eyes.

“He’s been out this morning collecting logs and such for the fires.

I’ve not long returned from a shift with the bakers—there’s no way I’m allowing our famous rosemary twist to turn into a distant memory—and I’ve taken up knitting, can you believe it?

Salma is here too—she’s been teaching me the basics of garment making. We’ve got to do what we can here.”

“You seem…happy,” Adelina said rather pointlessly as she observed the mild crinkles around he r mother’s lips and the glint in her eyes. “Considering.”

“Well.” Velinka cleared her throat as she wiped her already clean hands on her skirt. “It’s been a challenging few weeks, but we’re fortunate to have survived. We’ve all come together to make the most of what we have, and the local governors have been most generous with their supply wagons.”

“It’s good to see you again.” Damir pressed a kiss to Velinka’s cheek by way of greeting. “And my parents—they’re fine, too?”

“Oh, yes.” Velinka beamed. “They have the tent two down from ours.”

“I’ll take you to them,” Natasha said, beckoning him outside.

Before he left, he took Adelina’s face in both of his hands and kissed her. “We’re going to be okay.”

She closed her eyes, resting her forehead against his. “I know.”

He slipped outside, leaving her with her mother.

Moments later, Daro bundled in through the tent, his arms covered in dirt, but a grin on his face. And behind him, a little girl followed.

Adelina frowned. “ Yarmilla? ”

The girl’s eyes widened. “Adelina!”

Her pa came to an abrupt halt, his gaze locking on Adelina’s.

“Hey, Pa,” Adelina said, her heart soaring.

Within two long strides, he had her nestled against his chest, his hand cradling the back of her head. “Oh, my daughter.”

When he let go, his eyes were red and puffy. “Your mother and I were sick with worry. But the gods have been kind. And Damir! I crossed paths with him outside.”

Adelina smiled, warmth enveloping her like a thick blanket. “Natasha took him to see his parents. Yarmilla, you seem to have recovered well.” Adelina scanned the young girl she’d saved from the collapsing building. She had no limp, which suggested her wound had healed without infection.

“Your ma found some herbs to treat my leg,” she said. “She tended to me on the way here. They’ve let me stay with them, since my pa didn’t make it.” She sniffled, dragging her sleeve across her nose.

“Of course.” Adelina’s voice came out quieter than she’d planned. There was something about the little girl, likely close in age to her sister, that reminded her of Tihana. Perhaps the button nose and large, round eyes.

“It’s not much.” Velinka gestured to the bundles of blankets. “But it’s enough. Why don’t you find Damir? I’ll see if there’s a spare tent nearby for the both of you while these two get cleaned up. This section was one of the first to be erected, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, Ma,” Adelina said. “Truly.”

Velinka placed her hand on Adelina’s cheek. “Anything for you, my darling.”

She headed outside, and Adelina followed, leaving her pa and little Yarmilla to change for supper.

It didn’t take Adelina long to find her husband in an embrace with both of his parents, tears streaming from their eyes. She went to them and thanked all the gods for lighting her way back to them. Back to them all. Back home.