The walk back to the palace was quiet.
Corin stayed close to Kaelen, his small hand gripping the edge of Kaelen's cloak as if it were the only thing keeping him tethered to the world. The boy's blue eyes darted from shadow to shadow, from alley to alley, from rooftop to rooftop. He was afraid.
Kaelen did not tell him to stop.
He understood the fear. He, too, had spent too many nights searching for answers, wondering what waited around the next corner. But fear did not mean they had lost. Sometimes, it simply meant they had not found the light yet.
Kaelen slowed his steps.
"Stay close."
Corin nodded.
"I am," he whispered.
A small smile touched Kaelen's lips.
"Good."
They continued down the narrow street. The evening air carried the scent of rain, and somewhere beyond the buildings, people were talking. A window opened. Warm light spilled across the cobblestones before the shutters closed again.
Corin noticed it.
"There are people here."
"There are."
"So we're not alone?"
