na Thor
ous, feverish chill. The rain had started again, a cold, persistent drizzle that seeped in
nner wolf urged, her voic
o. He'd mentioned an old pack doctor, Elara, who lived on the very edg
ope. I found the place just as he'd described it: a small, moss
wood. The door creaked open to reveal an old she-wolf, her fa
pale-and simply stepped aside. "Get in before you cat
pun towel and a steaming mug of broth without a word. The hot liquid was li
voice hoarse. "I need herbs.
d with dried herbs. "Trouble at the packhouse?" she aske
king it hard to speak. "Gideon is gon
She let out a long, weary sigh, a sound of s
parcels wrapped in leaves. "Thes
y dress. I pulled out my entire fortune: three small, tarnished iron coins, the
small wooden table towa
face. She shook her head gently. "Child, this wou
me with the force of a physical blow. Without G
ever," she said, pushing the coins back toward me, "Gideon once
d them more than I do. But understand this, Seraphina. This is the only time I can he
, a strange mix of gratitude for her kindness and
trouble," I promi
leave, she sto
north from here. Cross the Whispering River. You'll find an abandoned quarry. There'
ines on her face, branding the sc
winter rose. Remember his scent,* my inn
ting worse. I had to find that quarry. I tore off a piece of a medicinal le
n agony. My body screamed in protest, but my will to
des of bruised purple, I saw it-the skeleta
, behind a pile of rusted machinery, I collapsed onto the cold concrete floor. Curling
/1/114236/coverbig.jpg?v=2c2717c0228e8ee215fa41330abae88a&imageMogr2/format/webp)