One night, Kaelen stumbled upon a girl lying in the mud, her leg torn by a wolf's bite. She should have feared him—he was ragged, hollow-eyed, branded an exile. Yet she only whispered, "Please."
He bound her wound, built a fire, and carried her to a hunter's cabin he had discovered in the hills. For days he cared for her until her kin arrived, weeping in gratitude. They left him bread, salt, and—most precious of all—trust.
It was the first time Kaelen realized the oath was not only his burden, but his strength.