Tirelessly, over the next two days, Brenna and Roshe helped Squadron Leader Ariss and the seven members of the Royal Zan Guard navigate their way through the winding, twisting Ausicaan backwoods.

They were careful to avoid the main roads. A caravan as unusual as theirs with a Sindori-Levish boy, a Zan-Levish girl, seven Zan men, six horses, and a massive wolf was bound to attract unwanted attention, after all.

On the second morning, Miven trotted over on his horse to ride alongside Brenna and Squadron Leader Ariss.

He addressed Brenna in courteous tones, "Your Highness, if I might be so bold to inquire—why do you insist on retrieving this friend of yours from Lachsea?"

After giving it some thought, Brenna answered, "This is very important to me because... if I am to go to an unfamiliar place, like the Republic, then I wish to bring a confidant who will not steer me awry. Sorcha knows me better than I know myself. I trust her judgment."

With a cunning gleam in his dark eyes, Miven teased, "Your Highness, are you suggesting that my men and I might steer you awry, which is why you need to seek out an old woman's protection?"

She blushed in embarrassment.

Brenna scrambled to repair any misunderstandings, "I apologize, Miven! I meant no offense to you or your men! Without your assistance, I do not know if I would still be alive right now. I simply hoped to express that... I have known Sorcha longer than I have been acquainted with you, so it feels more natural to turn to her for advice."

A guarded expression passed over Miven's face. "There is nothing you can say to offend me, Your Highness. My station falls far beneath yours."

"Yet, I do not see you as such," Brenna protested gently. "You are my equal in every way that matters, Miven, and you are most certainly my superior in combat."

As they cantered forth on horseback, Squadron Leader Ariss kept his arms steadfastly locked around Brenna's body as he grasped at the reins. A faint look of tenderness shone from his eyes.

He said nothing, though.

Miven chuckled. "That is kind of you to say, Your Highness, but, alas, we both know it is not true. I do wonder, though..."

"What is it?" she prompted anxiously.

"What is it that you value most in this friend of yours, Your Highness?"

"Well," Brenna replied with more caution, "I suppose... what I value most is... Sorcha's ability to reveal the truth. Even when it hurts me. She has a knack for shining a bit of light on the dark corners of my character."

"Sorcha sounds like a wise woman," Miven commented.

"She is a gift to humanity," Brenna insisted.

Miven laughed again. "You are wise, then, Your Highness, to value such a friend."

"I am actually quite foolish," Brenna mumbled. "I was merely fortunate enough to stumble upon Sorcha's acquaintance."

Miven remarked, "Do not be so hard on yourself, Your Highness. In time, I am sure you will learn to choose your friends more wisely once we arrive in Zan."

At this, Brenna felt Squadron Leader Ariss tense up behind her.

During this entire time, the green-eyed boy had been sidled up against her on their horse, but not once did he choose to speak up. Brenna noticed that his behavior had been on guard around Miven as of late, and she didn't know quite what to make of it.

Miven cast a sharp look in Squadron Leader Ariss' direction. "What about him, Your Highness? Do you trust the Commander Admiral's son as much as you trust your Sorcha?"

To Squadron Leader Ariss' credit, other than the slightest tick in his jaw, he didn't give any reaction to Miven's open hostility.

Brenna chuckled nervously. "Of course I trust him! Squadron Leader Ariss is one of my most beloved friends and confidants. I owe him my life."

"Do you, now?" Miven muttered.

His eyes remained cold as he stole another glance at Squadron Leader Ariss. "I am curious, Ariss, if you feel the same way about the Princess?"

Squadron Leader Ariss broke his silence.

"Rest assured, Miven—my devotion to Miss Catannach knows no bounds. Much like you, I intend to do everything in my power to ensure her safety."

Brenna's eyes widened with unease. She couldn't shake the feeling that the two males weren't seeing eye to eye even though their voices remained polite and restrained.

Miven smirked. "That is all well and good, Ariss, but I cannot help but doubt your words. Is it possible for one man to pledge loyalty to a Zan Princess, a Levish emperor, and a Levish Commander Admiral all at once?"

Brenna swallowed anxiously. She didn't like the direction in which this conversation was headed.

"Naturally, Miss Catannach's well-being comes before everyone and everything else in my eyes," Squadron Leader Ariss answered with steely resolve.

Unimpressed, Miven grunted, "Let us hope so."

Afterwards, Miven galloped away on his horse and didn't interact much with Brenna or Squadron Leader Ariss again for the rest of their journey.

Together, they continued northward in strained silence.

Brenna fretted over the lingering tension between Squadron Leader Ariss and Miven. For days, Squadron Leader Ariss had been nothing but respectful towards Miven, but, for reasons that mystified Brenna, the older Zan didn't seem to want anything to do with him.

As their party inched closer and closer to Lachsea, however, much of Brenna's distress began to trickle away. Her heart fluttered quickly. She struggled to contain her excitement. Brenna couldn't wait to be reunited with Sorcha again. She longed to tell the witch everything that had happened to her since she left home—

Of how she almost died in a train explosion.

Of how her mother had likely been murdered by the man she was supposed to marry.

Of how the forests near Vaener had swallowed a man alive.

Of how she intended to travel to Zan to meet her father.

Sorcha would know what to do. The witch always knew what to do to set them on the right path forward.

Another hour crept by.

At last, the misty, snow-capped peaks of Mount Sinea manifested like a dream come true before Brenna's eyes.

Squadron Leader Ariss quickened their horse to a gallop. Roshe scampered to keep up, and Miven's men and horses followed closely behind them.

Meadows blanketed in a pristine cloud of white came into view. Spindly whitebark trees, barren of their leaves in this foggy, frigid season, swept across the beautifully austere landscape in thickly forested clusters.

As the familiar sights of Lachsea rose to greet Brenna, an overwhelming sense of home filled her heart.

At last, Brenna was back where she belonged—

Where she had been born.

Where she had spent her happy childhood with her mother and Lyonach and Haelynn and Ibeaza.

With a trembling smile, Brenna guided everyone towards the forest.

"This way," she breathed out. "Follow me."

They entered the threshold to the forest and traipsed down the beaten path that Brenna had taken many, many times before in her younger years. Whitebark trees and corberry thickets and lilyvale vines welcomed them. They darted through the woods.

The lake appeared. Its waters were frozen over from the cold.

A small house tucked into a hill stood beside it.

Brenna's gray eyes filled with happy tears when she saw puffs of smoke lifting from the chimney.