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the way to the eastern edge of the camp and
the plains that stretched past, the space wide
and hollow after the closeness of the army.
She didn’t stop until she reached a stream
they’d crossed only hours ago. It was nearly
frozen over, but a stomp of her boot had the
ice cracking. Breaking free to reveal dark
water kissed with silvery starlight.
Then she fell to her knees and drank.
Drank and drank, cupping the water to her
mouth. It had to be cold enough to burn, but
she kept at it until she braced her hands on her
knees and said, “I can’t do this.”
Rowan sank to a knee, the shield he’d kept
around her while she stalked here sealing out
the cold wind off the open plain.
“I—I can’t—” She took a shuddering
breath, and covered her face with her wet
hands.
Gently, Rowan gripped her wrists and