They left the valley before dawn, Kaelen setting a pace that kept Serenya's legs in constant protest.
The path wound through narrow ridges, where frost clung to the stones and the wind whispered like distant voices. Serenya's thoughts kept circling back to the face in the well—those molten gold eyes, the way they had spoken her title like a prayer and a threat.
By the time they reached the foothills of the Spine, the sun was cresting the jagged peaks. Kaelen slowed only when the sound of a stream reached them.
"We rest here," he said.
Serenya knelt by the water, cupping her hands to drink. The cold shocked her senses awake. When she looked up, Kaelen was scanning the surrounding rocks—too intently.
"What is it?" she asked.
Before he could answer, a voice drifted from the rocks above.
"Funny place to stop, this close to Covenant territory."
A figure stepped into view atop a boulder—a woman, tall and lean, her hair a cascade of black braids threaded with copper rings. She wore a half-smile and armor of layered leather dyed deep green, a bow slung casually over one shoulder. Her eyes were sharp, the kind that missed nothing.
Kaelen's hand went to his dagger. "Lower the bow, Lira."
The woman arched an eyebrow. "Still so paranoid, Kaelen. If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't waste the element of surprise on banter."
She leapt down from the rock with feline grace, landing a few paces from Serenya. Her gaze swept over her, lingering just long enough to make Serenya's skin prickle.
"And who's this?" Lira asked.
"No one you need to know," Kaelen replied.
"That so?" Lira's half-smile deepened. "Strange, then, that the air hums around her. Feels almost… divine."
Serenya stiffened. "You can feel it?"
"Oh, darling," Lira said lightly, "everyone who's half awake can feel it. Most are just too afraid to say so."
Kaelen stepped between them. "We're heading to the Free Cities."
"And I," Lira said, brushing imaginary dust from her armor, "happen to be heading that way myself. The roads are… dangerous. Traveling together makes sense."
"I don't trust you," Kaelen said flatly.
"You never did." She glanced at Serenya. "But the girl? She might."
Serenya hesitated. There was something about Lira—charming, yes, but with an edge sharp enough to cut if you weren't careful. "If you're going to help," she said slowly, "you'll need to tell us why."
Lira's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Let's just say the Covenant and I have unfinished business. They took something from me. I plan to take it back."
They set off together, the air between Kaelen and Lira thick with old history neither would explain. Serenya walked between them, listening to their clipped exchanges.
It was near dusk when they came across the first sign of trouble—a cluster of broken carts abandoned in the middle of the road. The horses were gone, but blood stained the snow, dark and half-frozen.
Kaelen signaled for silence. Lira drew her bow.
A sound broke the stillness—a slow, deliberate clap.
From behind one of the carts stepped a man dressed in deep crimson, his cloak lined with black fur. His hair was white as frost, his eyes cold and calculating.
"I was wondering when you'd get here," he said. His gaze slid past Kaelen and Lira and landed on Serenya. "The Starfire's vessel."
Her breath caught. "How do you—?"
He smiled without warmth. "The Covenant isn't the only one searching for you."