: A

nto an empty house near the village centre when we heard the horses. People rushed

hem. Another had his arm wrapped in a bloodstained cloth. Thei

re are the others?" someone shouted. The soldier at the fro

her, but he had no comforting answer. "The enemy attacked before our reinforcements

farther north." "And our soldiers?" "Some are still there. O

hand. "We need food, water, and somewhere for the in

ward her house to fetch water. I followed

hich road his unit had taken or where the fightin

ng's army. Six returning men couldn't tell us what had happened to e

ent. "Help me with this." She handed me a bucket,

younger than Kael, perhaps only a few years older than the boys who helped thei

k you." "Which unit were you with?" He pa

rth this morning?" "Some of them." "Do you know Kael?" He looked at me prop

name. I haven't seen him today." I waited, h

ing's men?" "Some. We were separated during the retreat." He seemed relucta

the bucket. Mara touched my arm. "Come and sit down for a moment."

orget to eat something." I almost smiled. "You sound

arried another bucket of water toward the soldiers. There was still work to d

he wounded and the families who had nowhere else to go.

ren helped distribute water. Those who could still walk we

nd sat beside a frightened little girl while her mother spoke to one of

" she asked me. I looked down at her.

rotect everyone and that the enemy would never reach our village. Bu

listen when they give instructions." She nodded, though she still looked frig

the other families. The thought of children growin

We had spent our days worrying about food, work, and the small troubles that made up ordin

I moved aside as two guards carried another man into the hall. He was conscious, b

t was the same colour used by the king's northern guard. "Where did you come from?"

could stop myself. The man blinked at me. "Who?" "

dy could tell me where my husband was, whether he had reached the battlefi

topped, I was afraid I would begin thinking about everything that

. I rushed outside and found people gathering near the main r

armour was scratched, and he had a deep cut across one c

revent them from reaching the southern settlements." "What about the king's army?" a man asked. "The king ha

with military training must report to the village hall. We n

lies would be left waiting. I looked toward the road, half ex

as, a man who had served alongside Kael before our marriage. I hurried t

ent north with the reinforcements." Tomas rubbed a hand over his face. "I wasn't in his

"Do you know where his unit went?" "They were meant to meet the norther

u're worried. But the roads are crowded, and the orders have been changing

for." He hesitated. "If I hear anything, I'll come and find you." I n

Please don't let him take unnecessary risks." His expre

amilies had gathered to prepare for evacuation. We were told to leave before noon. The

ll bag of grain, and the wooden comb Kael had carved for me

de. I placed it carefully inside my bag. It was a foolish thing to take when we didn't know where we would

ide their parents, and older people leaned on relatives for support. So

back. Part of me expected to see Kael riding toward us, laughing at my worried expressio

guards ordered everyone to rest. I sat on a falle

imes that I knew them by heart. At the time, I had thought they were ordinary wor

he meant. "Our husbands?" She nodded. I looked at the road behind us. "Yes," I

nd. "So do I." A guard called for everyone to move. I tucked Kael's m

or whether the things we had left behind would still be there when the fighting ended.

g. The guards directed us toward a large house where the village elders ha

quiet corner near the doorway. My legs ached, and I

were restless. Their voices carried through the darkness as

lly stopped and hurried toward the captain. I couldn't hear everything he said

n calling for his men. A cold feeling spread through m

madam." "What happened?" "Nothing you need to worry about." "Then why are you preparin

e going back toward the fighting. And somewhere beyond the darknes

ether. "Please come ho

een trying to avoid. I was afraid. Not because I knew Kael was hurt. Not becau

ad already taken away the one thing I had always believed I could