The wagons rolled out at dawn.
Seren sat at the front of the column, riding a chestnut mare that Kael had personally selected for her; calm-tempered but strong, he had said, capable of outrunning trouble if needed. Behind her stretched five wagons loaded with grain, dried meat, medicine, and warm blankets. Beside and between them walked forty soldiers: twenty wolves, twenty humans, their breath misting in the cold morning air.
Lysa rode at Seren's left, her face pale but determined. Captain Voss flanked her right, his hand never far from his sword.
"You didn't have to come," Seren said to Lysa.
"Yes, I did." Lysa pulled her cloak tighter against the wind. "Someone has to make sure you eat something other than hardtack and regret."
Seren almost smiled. "I've survived worse."
"Exactly. Which is why you think you're invincible. You're not."
