Jason and Ylva managed to slip away from the chaos surrounding the palace, weaving through back alleys and side streets until the sounds of shouting and crashing debris faded into the distance. They didn't leave the kingdom. Instead, they made their way back to the werewolf elder's small hut on the outskirts of Eldrath, the same place they had visited earlier for Jason's injuries.
The elder opened the door without a word, took one look at their disheveled state, and simply gestured them inside. "You two look like you've seen death itself. Sleep here tonight. No questions."
Jason collapsed onto the smaller cot in the corner, while Ylva took the larger one across the room. They had chosen to sleep separately out of habit, but Jason couldn't settle. He lay on his back, staring at the wooden ceiling beams, unable to close his eyes for long.
