Mera went still, not even blinking, her glazed eyes seeming to stare past Carissa. "All of them?"

"All of them."

Mera glanced down at her lap, then up at her. "Are you certain? Perhaps they were—"

"Elon and I burned the corpses."

"E–Elon didn't save them?"

Carissa shook her head.

Mera pressed a hand to her chest. "But my father. He was all I had left. I th–thought I would only be here for a little while, that he would come to find me again. That we would be a family." She placed a hand against her stomach, and Carissa realized she was including her baby in that statement.

"I'm sorry." The words came out cold and stale. Carissa swallowed and tried again, "I'm truly sorry. I know what it feels like to lose... to lose the light of your life, the one person who accepts and loves you no matter what."

Mera stared forward, not seeming to hear her, her hand still absent-mindedly splaying across her stomach. The light in her eyes seemed to wither and die. Her gaze drifted to Carissa. "But... how?"

Carissa seated herself on the bed, far enough away to give Mera space. She wasn't certain the girl would want comfort from her. And then she told her what had happened.

Mera didn't speak or move. In fact, sometimes Carissa doubted she breathed.

"And shortly after I found Elon, he died." The beat of Carissa's heart hitched, though her words were delivered as calmly as the rest of the story.

A long moment passed in silence.

"Mera?"

The girl stirred, though the light didn't come back to her eyes. "So now you're going to kill the Reaper King."

"Yes. I leave tomorrow morning."

Mera stood slowly, as if the movement pained her. "Tomorrow morning. I can be ready by then."

Carissa shot to her feet. "Mera, I go alone. That wasn't an invitation."

"I wasn't asking for one." A glimpse of the old Mera flashed in her dull eyes.

"Mera, you're pregnant, you've had no training—"

"You don't have a plan for getting into the capital, do you?"

"Of course I do." At least, she would by the time she got there.

"How do you plan on getting through the gate? By climbing over the wall?"

The city was walled? That did complicated things. "Of course. All I need is rope and—"

Mera laughed. "If you think you can climb them, you obviously haven't seen the city before."

Obviously. She came from Nysia. "So?"

"Hundreds of guards patrol the top of the wall. The wall itself is razor sharp, composed of tiny jagged barbs. Just brushing up against that wall would rip your skin off."

"I can use a disguise—"

"Anyone who is allowed within the city has to apply for a permit three days ahead of time. And they have to be able to know at least two people within the city who can verify their identity."

Carissa opened her mouth. Then closed it. Getting in would be more difficult than expected.

"Or you could bring someone along with you who happens to have relatives in the capital." Mera smirked.

Carissa rubbed a hand over her dry, tired eyes. "Fine. You can accompany me to the city, and then stay with your relatives."

"Excellent." Mera pivoted on her heel, her dress flaring around her ankles. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

When the door closed behind her, Carissa sank back to the bed. She glanced down at the ring on her finger, but it offered no guidance. What had she just gotten herself into?

***

When Carissa thought the light peeping through the shutters was bright enough, she rose and packed her things. Her clothing still reeked from travel. Perhaps they could stop at a river before reaching the capital.

Pain throbbed behind her eyes from lack of sleep. She'd tossed and turned the entire night, thinking about Elon, Mera, and the Reaper King. Would she run into Brone again? She hoped so. She'd like to not only run into him but run him through. Or perhaps she could shove him into the capital's walls. It would be a fitting death.

Carissa slung her pack over her shoulders and took a deep breath. Elon would want her to forgive Brone. Though the man didn't deserve it, she'd try to—for Elon's sake.

She padded down the stairs, the floor boards creaking and whining with each step. Mera was seated at a round table with a few other women, though she shoved back from it and stood when Carissa approached.

Mera flashed Carissa a smile, though Carissa knew enough of grief that she could see the darkness lurking in her eyes, the weight tugging at her soul. "I was wondering when you'd finally get up."

"Let's go." Carissa's gaze roamed the group and she stopped at the oldest woman among them. She was trim, yet matronly, with a smile in her eyes. "Thank you for your hospitality."

The woman nodded. "Mera said you were going to go visit her relatives in the capital."

An excellent lie. "Yes."

The woman lifted a sack. "Then take this with you. I have some hardtack and dried meat that will keep well for the journey."

"Thank you." Once Carissa finished repacking, she strode outside, with Mera following at her heels.

Some of the women followed them, though they stayed at the porch. They waved and shouted farewells, their darkly-colored dresses contrasting with the white-washed house.

Mera glanced over at Carissa. "Many have never gone beyond that porch. Not for years."

"Why's that?"

"The house has a sort of protection enchantment that ends at the porch. I asked where they obtained such an enchantment, but no one was particularly forthcoming with an answer." Mera shrugged.

Which explained why the yare wolves kept their distance. Interesting. Perhaps she could use such an enchantment when she faced the Reaper King.

The house soon disappeared from view, obscured by trees, and Carissa focused her gaze on her feet, each step taking her closer to the capital. It was time that the Reaper King suffer the same fate he'd inflicted on others.

***

Author's Note: Sneak peek is in my profile bio. :)