Chapter 12

Jo cuts through the last Strou opponents in the valley, her swordlight dim and her body spent. Fredrich finds her and drags her from the blood-slick field toward the temporary camp as dawn nears. General Samasu confronts them, anger barely contained, and takes Jo’s weapons while demanding an account of the chaotic cave escape and ensuing battle.

Fredrich accepts blame for the exposed strike on the cave’s fire guards, but Jo explains they were spotted and forced through twisting tunnels, pursued at every turn. Outside, their battalion encircled the Strou pouring from the caves and turned the valley into a killing ground, allowing remaining enemies to retreat once victory was assured.

Sam orders Jo cleaned and guarded, but Jo refuses healer attention so care can go to ungifted wounded. Alone in a bare tent, she strips bloodied gear, washes in icy water, and collapses into dreamless sleep, her body shaking with cold.

Night falls again when a Strou assassin slips past the guards into Jo’s tent. Disoriented and freezing, Jo fumbles for her dagger, but before the blow lands, Acker seizes the attacker’s wrist, drops him to his knees, and kills him with his own blade. He scolds Jo for her helplessness, then notices her dangerous chill, covers her, and lies beside her to warm her, fingers entwined.

Believing it must be a dream, Jo yields to the comfort of Acker’s embrace as he tells her to sleep. The scene closes with Jo drifting into a memory of their boat—peace momentarily reclaiming her amid war.