Dragoncrest Cliffs so, i robbed you blind.

all this she had learned from her mother; all this, put to good use.

val, dead? sobeille’s gaze flickered with something not quite grief, not quite love. irritation, maybe — how he died did not matter. if val was to die well, it better have been defending her family.

a small measure of disappointment settled within her to learn dogfish and svalinn abandoned them. sobeille vowed to trust outsiders a little less, for each time they left they stole from her a section of her eroding good will.

was it coincidence the raiders lived near the coast? she met some wolves settling to the south, and in her long foray back up, discovered no other packs. this could only mean one thing.

see dat mountain range? she pointed to the cascading mountains blue with distance, their shapes indistinct. follow dem, keeping to dere east face. go until you scent fresh water, and follow dat water sout'. you will know dem by dere scent, de river clings to dem. 'owl for etienne, and 'e will come. but go, now. it be far -- four day's march at least. keep to de shade an' travel quick, and tell no wolf dat you come across of your errand.