The sound of running footsteps came from inside the villa, and Rena appeared in the doorway, followed closely by Baren and Taeryn.
Three of them had been resting after their long journey, but the sound of voices had brought them running.
"Morgana!" Rena cried out, seeing the witch collapsed on the ground. "You're back! Where's Jaenor? Is he all right?"
She looked around the courtyard as if expecting to see him step out from behind one of the flowering bushes.
When she saw only Morgana's grief-stricken face, her smile began to fade.
"Where is he?" she asked again, her voice becoming smaller and more afraid.
Morgana forced herself to look up at the young woman, who looked at her with hope. The words felt like poison in her mouth, but they had to be said.
"He's gone," she whispered.
"They... they killed him. I was too late."
The courtyard fell silent except for the gentle sound of the fountain.
