"Captain! Captain Lysander!" Amaris called as her voice echoed with urgency. The soldiers halted, all eyes turning toward her. Lysander immediately spun around, recognizing her voice and rushed to meet her while worry began creasing his brow.
"What is it, Amaris? Has something happened?" he asked, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of distress.
Amaris gestured toward the sizable pile of provisions left in her yard. "Captain, you've left so much here—far more than I could possibly need. Look at all of this meat, and... supplies? You all need it more than I do, especially with the journey ahead," she protested, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Please, Amaris," Lysander replied gently, trying to reassure her, "accept it. You've given us more than we can repay, and we couldn't in good c
