Chapter 4: The Savior’s Cold Embrace

The fragile truce born from the rescued wolf lasted only as long as the patrol itself. The moment we stepped back into the cleared lands bordering Silverfall, the wall of formality slammed down between us once more. Kaelus resumed his position several paces ahead, his back a rigid, unapproachable line. The subtle easing of my constant pain, which his proximity had granted, began to recede, the headache and fatigue creeping back with a vengeance. The brief glimpse of something other than contempt...