Chapter 208

Kaia did not leave at dawn.

She did not leave at night.

She left in the middle of an ordinary afternoon.

The kind of afternoon where nothing significant was happening—where grain was being sorted, children were arguing about something trivial, and two elders were debating whether to reinforce the southern bridge before the next rain.

No announcement.

No gathering.

She found Caleb near the storehouses, sleeves rolled, hands dusty.

“I’m going,” she said.

He didn’t ...