While the retainers packed, Meli stayed close to me. My mind was racing, putting pieces together.

The emblem. I'd caught a glimpse of it while we were sneaking away. A coat of arms I recognized from Adam's stories.

[b]"The Windpikes,"[/b] I said quietly, looking at Elena, Garrick, and Isolde. [b]"You probably know about them already. The elite enforcers from the old days. Secret missions, assassin work, things the knights wouldn't touch."[/b]

My jaw clenched. [b]"Looks like they've fallen far. Now they're just bandits doing the Crown's dirty work."[/b]

I took a breath and kept going. [b]"Pack small. You're going to Little Happens. It's three days from here, at the edge of the Forests of Vestarel. Chief Garou runs it, and he's refused to join with Ophidia or the Magocracy. You'll be safe there."[/b]

I went to my room and grabbed my small pouch of gold. Twenty-five pieces, saved over years. I counted out fifteen and came back, pressing them into Elena's hands.

[b]"Take the deed to the orchard with you,"[/b] I said. [b]"If you don't hear from Meli and me in a month, sell it. Start over somewhere else. Don't wait for us."[/b]

Then I turned to Meli. My voice got harder, more urgent.

[b]"We can't wait to plan this out. The Windpikes are dangerous, and if we let them leave with the Gathering, we might never get them back. We need to free them now."[/b]

I looked at all of them, waiting to see what they would say.