Chapter 156

*Rowan*

The ruins loomed ahead, broken stone piled like bones left out to dry.

Varis moved just ahead of me, silent but alert. His shoulders were taut, his fingers twitching every so often near the hilt of his blade. We didn’t speak as we passed through the remnants of the old flame ring, scorched symbols still clinging to the foundation like stubborn shadows.

The wind was sharp here—less like wea