The sky was still dark when the four of them rode out from the main camp. No escort. No banners. Just the terms Catherine had forced through yesterday.
Catherine sat stiff in the saddle, fresh bandages tight around her side where the wound from the last surge still pulled. Flora rode beside her, lance strapped across her back. Sabrina and Luna took the rear, eyes scanning the tree line.
They kept the horses at a steady walk. No one spoke for the first mile.
Catherine finally broke the silence. "Map the Varen forward camp. Note any foreign artifacts. Do not engage. We report back before noon if we find anything solid."
Flora nodded once. Her voice was flat. "Mothers first. That's what we agreed."
Sabrina snorted from behind. "Say it louder. Maybe the bond will hear you this time."
Luna shifted in her saddle. "Then why does it still hurt when he surges from miles away? The bond doesn't care about independence. It just pulls."
