Page 12 of To Fight and To Fold

Vaelen reached up and brushed a thumb over Thea's own smooth, uninterrupted brow. “We'll get this fixed once you settle in. Come with me."

Thea walked, with a last glance over her shoulder. Starspark was... still, while the druids around him attempted to coax the dragon deeper into the Dragons’ Nest, where he’d be safe. In the distance, she could see the silhouettes of others awaiting him.

A memory of Aaryn brushing him so lovingly flashed in Thea’s mind, and she ignored the quick ache behind her breastbone.

“You’ve been gone for so long. I’m eager to hear your tales, of which you have many, I’m sure.” Vaelen led her toward a dim orange glow.

Which was the kindest way Vaelen could’ve possibly given Thea room to breathe, to come to terms with her failure, and how to explain it. “There’s plenty to entertain you with.”

“And this hair!” Vaelen said with a laugh. “It’s really grown out!”

Thea flicked one of the braids at her temple. “The fringe got unruly. It was pissing me off in my armor. Braids were the answer.”

“Practical.”

“It had to be, because the armor they wear isn’t,” Thea grumbled.

Vaelen arched a brow in interest. “Why’s that?”

“It’s not like ours,” she said, and motioned to Vaelen. The archdruid wasn’t wearing battle armor around the circle on an average day, but she got the jist. “It doesn’t breathe. And it’s heavy.”

Vaelen chuckled and glanced over at her, but remained quiet while Thea ranted about being a guard. Spending almost two years listening to them sing the king’s praises when⁠—

Thea huffed, ending her tirade about the time they arrived at the rune circle.

“Ready for this again?” Vaelen asked.

Thea stepped eagerly into the unlit magic beneath their feet.

With the toe of her boot, she shifted the tile into place, completing the illustration of a rune painted into the flat stones beneath her feet. The spell activated and a full-body shiver worked up Thea’s spine. By the time it was making her scalp ripple with gooseflesh, a new landscape awaited Thea.

Thea sucked in a breath as she looked out. In the time she had been gone, they’d done so much.

“Timberscale was raided. We had to pull new ground, shuffle some folks around," Vaelen explained.

“So that was you,” Thea murmured. She’d heard word of a new crater in the earth on Windhelm’s side of the mountain range, whispers of rotten druids poisoning the land, sacrificing it for the sake of revenge. How wrong they all were. “I thought I counted a new ring,” she offered.

“We had to make room for them. About two months ago, Evergale took their land,” Vaelen said as they walked, her expression neutral. Which meant she was pissed. "We took them in."

“At least they're safe here,” Thea murmured. The only ones who knew Cloud Haven even existed were the ones who were offered refuge here.

Thea noted a guard on duty near the teleportation runes and offered them a nod. “Now that looks comfy,” she told one, pointing to their armor, which was made up of leather and shiny scales that bent and moved with every motion they made.

They laughed and did a little spin as Thea directed, the scales shimmering green and blue with every movement, every reflection of light. “Welcome back, Thea,” they said.

A smile cracked Thea’s lips. “Thank you. It’s good to be back.”

“We’ll have to get you a new set once you’re settled in again,” Vaelen offered as they continued walking the worn paths between small buildings home to the tannery, the blacksmith, the seamstresses, and more. Every now and then Thea would spy a dragon lounging around, but most of them preferred to stay on their own isle, where she had delivered Starspark.

Thea swatted at Vaelen. “You spoil me.”

She waved off her thanks, as always. “You haven’t seen anything yet."

As Thea looked up from the archdruid, her jaw dropped. Homes had been carved from the earth and molded by magic hands with paths stretching off in every direction, tucked between the wildlife. Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds.

It was more organized, and more crowded than when she’d last been here.

“Archdruid Vaelen,” Thea whispered, throat catching tight around a lump of emotion.