Chapter 69

That evening, when she returned to find Fern curled up in the furs, she slipped in beside her friend and put her arms around her. Without saying a word, she rested her forehead on the other girl’s shoulder, and held her.

The stiffness in Fern’s muscles softened after a time, and she gave in to the embrace. Netya cradled her there until they both fell asleep. Whether or not Fern realized what had spurred the show of affection, Netya felt that a part of her friend understood.

Perhaps it was a simple gift, or a token of encouragement, or maybe something even more intimate. Whatever it was, Netya awoke to find a talisman hanging outside the tent, and the discovery warmed her heart.

On a leather cord looped around the end of one of their cooking sticks, a small, six-sided piece of wood waited for her. Just like Caspian’s carved buckle, it had been worked and polished with great care.

The design etched into the front had been carved out first, before being darkened