She looked down to see the young exile she'd given her blade.
"Moria," he said, grinning, as if she'd knocked him down in a game of catch-me.
She wrested her dagger from his fingers. "Is this how you repay me, boy?" When he tried to get up, she pressed the tip to his throat. "You used my blade to attack my sister?"
"Moria, no," Ashyn said. "He's with me. We were fleeing whatever's out there."
"And you just happened upon him?"
Ashyn seemed as if she'd like to say yes, that's what happened, but she could not lie to her sister. "His uncle captured me. Briefly. No one harmed me, though, and his uncle is dead. Now let him up. Please."
Daigo padded over and stood guard as Moria rose. Her sister fell into her arms, head on her shoulder. Moria didn't ask if she was all right. Physically, she seemed to be. In other ways? No, she would not be all right. Moria held her sister until Ashyn sniffled and stepped back, dry-eyed and fighting for composure.
"Save the tears, Keeper," Gavril said, though she'd given no sign of crying herself. "We need to go."
As much as his words and tone grated, he was right. Moria turned to the exile. "My wildcat is watching you, boy. No sudden moves."
"My name is Ronan."
She snorted as he rose and brushed himself off.
"May I have that dagger?" he asked.
"I think you've had quite enough use of it," she said.
"Not yours. That one." He pointed at the one she'd been using.
"No. Now walk in front of me."
He sighed and started around her. Then he stumbled on a vine, his hand shooting out to brace himself against her. As she shoved him away, the lantern light glinted off a dagger in his hand. Her fingers shot to her belt, and she cursed.
"Give that back," she said.
"Don't, Rya," Ashyn said. "You ha
ve yours. Everyone ought to be armed out here. He knows how to use it, so obviously he's a warrior. He ought to have a blade."
Ronan's expression confirmed that, as Gavril had guessed, the boy wasn't warrior caste. Yet even if she didn't think a blade would help against the shadows, no one should be defenseless.
"What about the others?" Levi said. "The governor and the rest of the Seeking party."
"They're gone," Ronan said. "Your governor. Your guards. Your villagers. They've vanished and all that's left is blood."
"Who attacked them?" Gavril asked.
"Those . . ." Ashyn waved at the shapes flitting through the woods. "Those things."
"Shadow stalkers," Moria whispered.
Ronan shook his head. "They're black smoke."
"Which is one form that shadow--" Moria began.
"It doesn't matter what they are," Ashyn cut in. "The Seeking party is gone."
"Can we stop talking and start walking?" Ronan looked out at the forest. "Running wouldn't be a bad idea either."
Moria hesitated, then nodded. "Form a line. Gavril at the end. Daigo and I will-- No, you--" She pointed at Ronan. "Get in front, where you can't stab anyone in the back."