Page 189 of Salt Between the Wolves

Soren.

The room fell silent.

When Leander finally answered, his voice carried none of its usual humor or ease, only certainty.

"I know."

Chapter 23: Shifting Ground

Soren

The trail had ended three villages ago, and Soren knew it just as well as the scouts and the men riding beside him. Even so, they had continued searching, because the alternative was turning back, and turning back meant admitting failure once again.

The woman described by the merchant had not been Eira. The rider seen crossing the eastern road had not been Eira either, and the tracks found near the river belonged to someone else entirely. Every lead ended the same way, dissolving into nothing.

Soren's horse shifted beneath him, and the movement sent a sharp pulse of pain through his chest. He ignored it, as he had learned to ignore so many things lately. The habit was becoming increasingly useful.

Ahead, the walls of Ironfang emerged through the morning mist. For the first time in his life, the sight of home brought him no comfort, only the reminder of another list of problems waiting for him: reports, border disputes, Frostvein, unreliable allies, and a woman he still could not find.

His jaw tightened.

Beside him, one of the scouts cleared his throat, which was a mistake. Soren already knew what was coming.

"My lord—"

"No."

The man blinked.

"I haven't said anything yet."

"You were about to."

Silence followed, and the scout wisely decided not to continue. Unfortunately, another rider proved less cautious.

"The eastern patrol returned."

Soren turned his gaze toward him, and the younger wolf immediately straightened in the saddle.

"The border villages are asking for additional guards."

Of course they were. Everyone seemed to be asking for something lately—more guards, more supplies, more answers, and answers were the one thing Soren did not have.

"What happened?"

The rider hesitated before answering.

"A few merchants refused entry."

That finally drew Soren's full attention.

"Refused?"

The rider nodded.

"They claimed they no longer recognize our authority over the crossing."

For several moments, nobody spoke. The wind whispered through the pines, a horse snorted somewhere along the line, and a raven called in the distance.