The return to Aethelburg was a silent, nerve-wracking march. Every snapped twig behind them sounded like a pursuing footstep. Every rustle of leaves seemed to carry the harsh tone of Corvin's voice. Kaelen, Brenna, and Torvin did not speak, their minds replaying every second in the vale, searching for clues in the miners' reactions, in Corvin's calculated silence.
When the palisade walls finally came into view, a collective, shuddering breath escaped them. Jorah emerged from the tree line, her expression grim. She fell into step with them, her eyes scanning the forest behind.
"They did not follow," she reported, her voice low. "They returned to their valley. But their pace was… thoughtful. Not hurried. It is an uncertain outcome."
"It's a foothold," Kaelen said, the words feeling fragile. "That's all we asked for."
