Page 160 of To Fight and To Fold

Runa glanced around them. Beyond the runes and the rocks and the trees, to the dozens of people going about their lives with chatter and laughter that hadn't been as present lately.

"Something’s going to happen," Runa said, and Aaryn's heart skipped a beat.

"What do you mean?" Aaryn stared at her, the tremor in her hands, the paleness of her face, the way she clutched at Aaryn as if afraid she'd pull away.

A sinking feeling threatened to swallow her, and she was afraid if she said anything more she'd somehow scare Runa from saying anything at all. So she patiently waited, expression open and worried and—skies, why was waiting all Aaryn seemed able to do lately? Wait for training, wait for magic, wait for Thea and—wait for someone to give her answers.

Answers she wanted to shake from Runa, but refrained.

Runa inhaled deeply, and Aaryn watched something in her quiet as she said, "The execution is a trap. While they're gone, Evergale is planning to attack."

"Attack here?"

Runa nodded.

"How?"

The circle was protected, and no one could get in through the barriers without…

Aaryn lifted her head slowly, looking out past the tall rocks and to the people of Cloud Haven. The druids, those that had made their home here.

And those that had been rescued from Skymore, still struggling to find their footing.

The pieces clicked into place.

Why Evergale had not bothered battling the druids for Skymore. Why they had set it aflame and left it for the druids.

It wasn't just to find Aaryn. It was because those they saved had a purpose.

A brief moment of relief washed over her because she wasn't to blame for Skymore's destruction after all. But that feeling was fleeting in the face of the devastation that was about to be wrought.

By the very hands that gripped her arm.

Aaryn shrugged off Runa's hold, betrayal cutting deep and sudden and shocking.

"I-It was the only way to fix my mistake, of losing you, according to the pr—king," she urged. "It would have cost me my life if I'd refused. But I won't do it. I had to warn you before it was too late⁠—"

Aaryn was already moving, leaving Runa and her deceit behind as she pushed her away and slotted the tile into place to activate the runes.

"I'm sorry, Aaryn!" Runa's voice cut off as the runes activated, and suddenly she was on Claw Hold searching the wandering druids for a familiar head of braids, heart pounding.

Aaryn didn't bother looking back as she darted between groups. A familiar guard she'd seen before caught her eye and she grabbed him by the shoulder. "Where is Vaelen?" she asked.

He clearly did not sense her distress. "Ahhh, I think she might be in her office."

Aaryn thanked the Great Dragon for her predictability, and took off in that direction.

Her pulse was on the back of her tongue, the ache in her head sharper.

All she could think about was Thea, their last conversation, how even now she was preparing to leave for Evergale, to stop the execution, to save Rolim.

For once, fate was shining down on her and she spotted Vaelen's shape on the path outside her tree.

"Vaelen!" Aaryn called out. At the desperation in her tone, Vaelen snapped her head up and turned towards her.

"Great skies, child, what's wrong?" she asked.

Aaryn caught her breath just enough to lower her voice, yanking Vaelen close by the shoulder. "The execution's a trap. They're going to attack here, the circle. The ones we took in, they're planted," she gasped out. "And Thea's leaving for Rolim."