Chapter 14

The Lady turned without another word and gestured for her entourage to follow her. Bjorn lowered his sword to this side, bowed at Eru and stepped out of the ring. Aislin glanced at Sami. Was that it? Would they be let in?

Breck nodded to them, and Eru stepped out of the ring and took hold of Aislin’s hand.

“You won”, Breck confirmed. “She will have no other choice but to let you in now”

He shook his head in disbelief and then gestured for them as he walked back to the wagons. Aislin glanced at Sami as they followed. She hadn’t said anything, and even now, she seemed deep in thought. Maybe it was simply the shock, but she didn’t dare to disturb her.

Eru glared back at the Lady and stuck out her tongue, and Aislin chuckled. They followed Breck back to the wagons and took their place in theirs.

“Soon, we’ll leave for the fortress”, he told them as he closed the door behind them.

Aislin sat down on the sofa, and Sami sat down next to her, watching out of the window. They had never talked about anything else than practical matters, and now, when Sami seemed to have something on her mind, Aislin didn’t know how much she dared to ask. Eru climbed up on Aislin’s lap and snuggled up against her. In the end, she just asked,

“How do you feel?”

Sami looked up at her, seemingly deep in thought.

“She let us in…”

Aislin waited for her to continue, but she turned back to staring out the window. Maybe it was simply shock, Aislin told herself, but she decided to keep an eye on Sami.

Soon after, they set out, and Aislin saw the landscape slowly changing outside the window. They’d been so focused on trying to pass, she’d never considered what they would do once they were inside. Did this mean they would start a new life here? She didn’t think the war would end any time soon, and their only other option was to return to the wandering life they’d had before.