They reached Whileton two days later, halting at the heavily guarded gates. They could hear Nyton’s cheerful voice, and seconds later, the hay was scraped back, the tarpaulin was rolled away, and they could see the sky once more.
They blinked at the sudden light, momentarily blinded.
There was a brief silence, then an incredulous voice.
“General?”
Nikolaus smiled, brushed a few wisps of hay out of his hair. “The same.” He squinted. “Manley?”
“Yes, sir. Dear gods… The men, Lord Ezekiel, your companions, they will be…”
Manley, captain of the watch, stoic and known for his cold demeanor, choked off the words. Niko’s vision cleared, and he could see tears in the man’s eyes and felt a surge of emotion of his own.
This was real. They had made it back.
He glanced at Kaillen, whose eyes we
