Chapter 12. The Price of Crossing

June's POV

The whole outpost gathered in the yard the next morning. Forty wolves, maybe more. Warriors, scouts, cooks, the boy who swept out the garage. They stood in rough lines in the cold sunlight, and nobody was talking.

I stood at the very back, against the wall of the healer's house, with Nell beside me. Close enough to hear. Far enough to leave.

Ronan stood on the steps of the main hall with his arm in the sling. Someone had fixed his shirt. I suspected Maren.

"Nine days from now," he said, "I go to Tarrow Hall to answer for what we did at the Halden."

He didn't shout. He never shouted. His voice just carried, low and flat, to every corner of the yard.

"Ashgrove says we broke the border and interfered in a lawful judgment. They're right. We did. If the Council rules against us, it can cut Thornfall off from the Tarrow co-op for the winter. No Council depot will sell us fuel, feed, road sal