Yoan Strongcastle stood at the bay window in his study, overlooking the bailey. He remained that way when Rhoa stepped in and closed the door.

"When my father died, the tower had been standing for twelve generations," he said after a moment, his voice low. "Twelve generations of Strongcastles lived here, died here, each passing their legacy one to the next."

Rhoa rested her crutch against his desk, then clasped her hands behind her back and tilted her head, studying him. There was more coming. His shoulders were rigid with it.

"I never thought I would be the one rebuilding it from the ground up." He shook his head and glanced over his shoulder at her. "I told you to make him talk. I didn't tell you to let him out. What on all the green earth was he doing in the stables?"

"Feeding the sheep," she said simply. She was about to go on when her father about-faced, glowering at her from under a fierce frown.

"The Vanguard can't be trusted, Rhoa. Whatever he told you, whatever he promised, it was only so he could use you."

Rhoa let out a sharp breath through her nose. For the first time in her life, she didn't back down, but met his eyes. "With all due respect, Father, you weren't here."

"Yes! You're right! And I was counting on you to hold things together. Instead, I come home to that," he said, his voice rising as he gestured toward the empty space were the tower once stood. "Do you know what it takes to capture a monster? We have to rebuild the tower, then track the beast to its lair, which is going to take months, now, if not years. Who knows how much damage that thing will do in the meantime —"

"Why?"

Strongcastle stopped speaking, his eyes widening with surprise as he looked at her. "What?"

"Why do you have to catch it again?" she asked calmly. "The Rot is gone. The grass is growing, the flowers are blooming, the rain has stopped. The monster hasn't been rampaging around killing people, so why do you have to catch it again and stick it in a tower?"

"Is that my daughter, or the Vanguard talking?" her father shot back. The corner of his lip curled in a humorless, disgusted grin. "He probably told you that the thaw was the monster's doing, didn't he? You know what is the most devastating thing about all this? You believe him. One week. That's all it took, and he undid everything we taught you –"

Rhoa narrowed her eyes. "You're angry about the tower. I understand that, but did you know I was trapped underneath it? No. You don't, because you weren't here. Did you know it was Kry who pulled me out? No. You don't. You haven't asked. Phane is right. We're all alive. If you knew what really happened here, maybe you would be grateful instead of treating me like a child."

Strongcastle's eyebrows rose, his forehead creasing into lines. "You abandoned your post, Rhoa. You betrayed your oaths to the Keeper's Order."

That made Rhoa go still. For a long, aching heartbeat she stared at him. Then she nodded, took up her crutch, and turned to leave.

Her father's voice was a demand more than a question. "Where are you going?"

She paused with her hand on the doorpull. "I saw the monster, Father. I looked into its eyes. There was more forgiveness there than I have ever had from anyone. I won't be part of this anymore."

"If you walk out that door, you are no longer welcome under my roof. I will not abide traitors."

Her throat aching, Rhoa bowed her head. She had expected as much, but hearing the words hurt just the same. She pulled the door open.

"Go then! Run to your precious Vanguard friend," her father shouted after her. "They treat women like slaves. When you get tired of washing his dishes and scrubbing his laundry, don't you dare come crawling back!"

Rhoa ground her teeth and kept going, crutching across the screens passage and into the Great Hall.

The slam of her father's study door behind her echoed from the marble floors and rattled a few wall hangings.

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The mill was one of the only original Ardusk buildings still standing, and the large open spaces in the barn and threshing floor had been turned into a sort of general quarters by the survivors. Several dozen people were gathered along the hitching rails out front, loading belongings and supplies into wagons and onto oxen.

There was a stir as the villagers realized there were Strongcastles coming to join them. Word spread quickly. At first there were gasps and murmurs, then Tettony's mother and sister came running out of the mill to greet Tettony, Isander and the children, and Kennon peeled off toward the smithy to find Sedir. Phane stayed for a few seconds, then left to find the Vanguard.

Rhoa kept her head down out of habit and tried not to get in the way. Her pulse was skipping erratically. She wanted to be part of this, part of what the Vanguard were doing, but what would she say? What would Kry say? He hadn't invited her. What if he didn't want a lame girl tagging along?

"Aunt Rhoa, come look!"

Sarrie's excited voice interrupted the swarm of questions whirling around Rhoa's head. She managed a bemused smile when Sarrie grabbed her hand and began pulling her around to the front of their cart, where Sedir's team of oxen stood placidly at the hitching rail, munching their breakfast in their nosebags.

"This one is named Bartelmaus, because he likes to eat, and this is Hingelboek. She sniffs things. Aren't they wonderful?"

"Oh yes. Very," Rhoa nodded, her grin growing.

Her grin faded as she caught sight of Phane and Kry strolling toward them up the length of the covered porch. Her heart stuttered. It was impossible not to look at Kry. He was looking at her, too, his gaze never leaving hers as they approached, breaking only when they came to a halt beside her.

"Rhoa is here, as you see, and Tettony and Isander," Phane said, his tone cheerful. "Kennon is around here somewhere. Which reminds me." He bent suddenly, ducked beneath the hitching rail, snatched a giggling Sarrie up into the air and settled her on his shoulders. "Sarrie. I've found a bug that you simply must examine," he announced, turning to give Rhoa a wink before striding away.

Just like that, Rhoa was left standing there, nearly alone with Kry.

The silence between them drew taught like tight-strung wire. Then he leaned forward and braced his arms on the railing next to her. "I understand you're coming with us."

Rhoa nodded and looked down at the dusty street between her boots, praying her blush wasn't too noticeable.

"And your parents?" he asked quietly.

She frowned, pain lancing through her at the memory of the vicious argument between Isander and her father that had raged for most of the night; her father refusing to say goodbye that morning; Gran patting her arm and telling her to enjoy her adventure; her mother watching from the window as they left. "They're staying. Gran, Lathen, Radier too."

Kry studied her a moment, his gaze serious. Then he dipped his head, wordlessly acknowledging the depth of that statement.

"He wants to rebuild the tower," Rhoa murmured, glancing at him. "He's going to hunt the monster down... make everything go back to the way things were. I can't do it again. I can't put the monster back in a cell."

He was staring at her, now. His eyes weren't as dark by day as they had seemed by lanternlight. They were a shade warmer than she had thought they would be, more burnt umber or wild honey than black, and lined with thick, sooty lashes. Beautiful. When had he become beautiful?

He hadn't said anything yet to make her think she was welcome, though. Rhoa took a shaky breath. "I was hoping you would let me ride with Tettony and Isander. I won't be any trouble. I can hunt and tend the animals... I'll earn my keep..."

Her words trailed away when he started shaking his head.

It felt like someone had just hauled off and poleaxed her in the ribs. Grinding her teeth, Rhoa whipped around and started for the other end of the wagon.

The oxen stirred, lowing and shuffling their hooves as Kry ducked quickly under the hitching rail and came after her, bringing her up short with a hand on her arm.

She wasn't about to let him see how much he could hurt her. Lips pressed tight, she tried to keep going, only to have him give her elbow a little yank that brought her back up against his front. That wasn't what made her go still. It was the rough burr in his voice.

"Rhoa, wait."

She closed her eyes for a moment. Then, with a shaky sigh, she relented and let him pull her around to face him again.

Lean fingers caught her chin, tilting her head up. Then he framed her jaw in his hand, midnight eyes searching her silver-green. "There are plenty of horses. You can ride with Tettony and Isander. Ride with whoever you like... But you don't have to prove your worth to me. You don't have to earn anything. I'm just glad you're here."

Her mouth wouldn't form words. She swallowed hard and blinked away the sting of tears, a wobbly grin breaking through.

Tettony came around to tie something down in the back of the wagon, then, and Rhoa made a quick swipe at her face with the heel of her hand, avoiding the appraising glance Tettony shot in their direction.

Kry bent slightly to look her in the eye. "I have to start gathering people. Do you need anything?"

Rhoa shook her head and cleared her throat. "I'm fine. Go on."

Kry gave her shoulder a parting squeeze, then turned and ducked back under the railing, leaving the way he had come.

°°°°°ººººº°°°°°

Rhoa sat astride the leggy dappled bay mare she had chosen, and looked up. Above Ardusk, the morning sky soared in a faultless vault of blue. It was a good day to begin a journey.

She let her gaze fall to the caravan of supply wagons and riders lined up down the length of the village square. The future was uncertain, but at least there was hope in the faces she saw.

There was a shout up at the head of the column, and one by one the wagons began moving forward, wheels rumbling over cobblestones, kicking up dust when they reached the dirt of the road south of town.

Rhoa turned in the saddle to get a final glimpse of the fortress. The trees had begun leafing, but she could still make out the walls rising in dark, solid, imposing lines at the top of the hill behind her. Even the bright mid-spring sunlight didn't seem to do anything to it. It remained cold, eating up whatever warmth it received.

With a last, silent goodbye, Rhoa lifted her chin, squared her shoulders, and urged her horse forward, falling in behind Isander and Tettony's wagon.

As they neared the junction with the South Road, she caught sight of Kry and two of his Vanguard gathered beneath the massive branches of the Meeting Tree, reining their horses in alongside each other so they could discuss something. Kry gave some sort of command, the other two dipped their heads, then sent their mounts cantering forward, heading for the front.

Kry kneed his horse around, scanning the oncoming people till he found her.

Rhoa lifted an eyebrow, watching as he waited until she drew even with him, then casually joined the procession next to her.

"Vanguard." She gave him a sidelong glance.

His teeth flashed in that dazzling, devilish smile. "Keeper's Daughter."

Rhoa hid a grin as they rounded a bend, and the hill cut Ardusk from view.

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