Chapter 36

Mara’s POV

Captain Orsik was waiting at the north road with two horses and the expression of a father one sentence away from violence.

“She’s going to Black Gorge,” he said before I had both feet out of the carriage.

“How do you know?”

“When she was six, her mother took her there during the spring migration. There’s an old garrison bell marker on the ridge. Lena still goes there when she wants to think.”

Ronan handed me a heavier coat. “Tamsin found tracks heading east. Orsik is probably right.”

“I am always right about my daughter.”

Ronan looked at him. “That seems statistically unlikely.”

Orsik didn't appreciate the attempt at humor.

We reached Black Gorge just before no