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"No," I said.
Theo frowned at me. "What?"
"I said no," I replied, folding my arms across my chest. I felt sick. "I just burned down Julian's house, Theo. I'm not going anywhere near civilization. I'm definitely not sleeping there."
Luca and Julian exchanged a glance. "But River—" Luca started.
"We could have died," I said through a clenched jaw. "Not just me—all of us. Do you want to risk the people in Kalnu Upelis? Or anyone?"
Luca took a step toward me, but Julian put up a hand to stop him. "She has a point," he said.
"Thank you," I said.
He glanced at me, then back at Luca. "I may have a solution."
Luca groaned. "I think I am not going to like whatever you are going to propose."
"Probably not," Julian agreed, "but I don't know of any other option."
Theo looked from Julian to Luca with raised eyebrows. "Are we camping?" he asked. "We are, aren't we?"
"Unless Luca has a better idea," Julian said, "yes."
Luca made a face, but didn’t answer. Theo, though, brightened.
"Great," he said. "We need stuff, though." He glanced at me. "I do think we need to go into town."
"I could stay here," I suggested, and jumped as all three shouted "No!" as one.
"Okay, okay," I muttered, holding up my hands. "Message received."
"A short trip." Luca reached for the keys that Julian was still holding. "We will be cautious."
"And quick," I reminded him.
He nodded. "That too."
The sun was just starting to peek over the mountains as we made our way down the winding road toward town. No one seemed to have the energy to speak. I'd done the best I could to clean myself up, scrubbing the soot from my face, but there was nothing to be done about the grass stains on my clothing.
"We'll change at the inn," Luca said, glancing at me as I tried for the third time to scrub a stubborn smear of mud from my jeans with a paper towel. "Since we need to retrieve our luggage anyway."
"Where do you even get a tent around here?" Theo mused.
"We won't need a tent," Julian said. He stroked the white hen, who was asleep in his lap.
I raised my eyebrows. "If you think I'm sleeping outdoors with no tent—"
"Trust me," Julian said, "we'll be fine."
After gathering our belongings from the inn, we loaded back into the car.
"Do they have sporting goods stores in Velarta?" Theo asked, peering at his phone. "Oh, wait. It's not REI, but—here." He mapped the route and stuck his phone on the dashboard.
Luca raised his eyebrows. "This?" he said disdainfully.
"Not everyone can buy hand-loomed artisanal outerwear," Theo said, rolling his eyes. "Some of us have to settle for mass-produced puffer vests."
Julian made a choking noise that might have been a stifled laugh. "Go on, old friend," he said. "Let's see what Theo has found for us."
