Chapter 4

Avery stared curiously at the woman holding the crying baby. She was tall and thin and looked to be close to fifty. She had deep wrinkles on her forehead and around her eyes, and her black hair was pulled back into a severe bun. She jiggled the baby impatiently as he screamed louder.

“This one has done nothing but cry since you left.”

Tristan took the baby from her, patting his back and lightly bouncing him up and down, as the others climbed out of the wagon. They stretched their legs and stared curiously at the campsite.

Maya held Avery’s hand and squeezed it nervously. Avery smiled reassuringly at her.

“It will be fine, Maya.”

They were in a large clearing in the forest just off the main road. A number of horses, their short leads staked to the ground, were grazing at the edge of the clearing. A small carriage was standing close to the road, and there were four tents situated around a large campfire.

Two men approached the horses and helped Mars