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Aedion knew he’d earned that loyalty long
ago. Just as the Bane had earned his. But it
didn’t stop him from hating it, just a bit. From
wishing Kyllian would take over in full.
Lysandra’s leg was healed enough to ride,
but he saw little of her. She kept to Ren’s side,
the two of them traveling near the healers,
should her stitches pull. When Aedion did
glimpse her, she often stared him down until
he wanted to vomit.
By the third day, the scouts were rushing to
them. Reporting that Morath had gained, and
was closing in behind—fast.
Aedion knew how this would go. Saw every
trudging step and hunger-tight face around
him.
Orynth was half a day off. Were it over
easy terrain, they might stand a chance of
getting behind its ancient walls. But between
them and the city lay the Florine River. Too