Page 250 of Salt Between the Wolves

The assistant hesitated only a moment.

"In her chambers," she said. "She returned not long ago. She’s resting."

Soren held her gaze for a heartbeat longer, then nodded once and turned toward the healer’s quarters.

Kael watched him take several steps before speaking again.

"What happened in Silverwake?"

Soren stopped, though only for a moment, as the wind moved through the courtyard and voices echoed somewhere beyond the walls.

Then, without turning back, he answered quietly.

"I was asked a question."

Kael frowned.

"What question?"

Soren’s hand tightened briefly around the folded letter hidden beneath his cloak—a question nobody had bothered asking, one he should have asked months ago, perhaps years.

For a moment, he considered answering, but instead he continued walking.

"I’ll tell you when I have an answer."

And with that, he left his second standing in the courtyard while he headed toward the healer’s chambers.

For the first time in his life, Soren was delaying a war council that demanded his presence, and though the realization should have disturbed him, it felt overdue.

The healer's chambers smelled of dried herbs, smoke, and old parchment, while a small fire burned in the hearth despite the season, filling the room with a steady warmth that felt strangely disconnected from the cold stone beyond the walls.

Varda looked up from a table crowded with jars and bundles of winter roots as the door opened. Surprise flickered across her face before it shifted into concern.

"Alpha."

Soren closed the door behind him.

"You searched the archives."

The healer was silent for a moment.

"I did."

"Did you find anything?"

Something in his voice made her set aside the knife she had been using.

"Some things."

"Then tell me."

Behind him, Kael frowned.

Varda studied him for several seconds before gesturing toward a pair of chairs.

"Sit."

"I'd rather stand."