na Thor

ous, feverish chill. The rain had started again, a cold, persistent drizzle that seeped in

nner wolf urged, her voic

o. He'd mentioned an old pack doctor, Elara, who lived on the very edg

ope. I found the place just as he'd described it: a small, moss

wood. The door creaked open to reveal an old she-wolf, her fa

pale-and simply stepped aside. "Get in before you cat

pun towel and a steaming mug of broth without a word. The hot liquid was li

voice hoarse. "I need herbs.

d with dried herbs. "Trouble at the packhouse?" she aske

king it hard to speak. "Gideon is gon

She let out a long, weary sigh, a sound of s

parcels wrapped in leaves. "Thes

y dress. I pulled out my entire fortune: three small, tarnished iron coins, the

small wooden table towa

face. She shook her head gently. "Child, this wou

me with the force of a physical blow. Without G

ever," she said, pushing the coins back toward me, "Gideon once

d them more than I do. But understand this, Seraphina. This is the only time I can he

, a strange mix of gratitude for her kindness and

trouble," I promi

leave, she sto

north from here. Cross the Whispering River. You'll find an abandoned quarry. There'

ines on her face, branding the sc

winter rose. Remember his scent,* my inn

ting worse. I had to find that quarry. I tore off a piece of a medicinal le

n agony. My body screamed in protest, but my will to

des of bruised purple, I saw it-the skeleta

, behind a pile of rusted machinery, I collapsed onto the cold concrete floor. Curling