The Traitor Queen

Lara kills as many soldiers as she can, but a new retinue arrives. She mounts a horse and rides through the town, calling out Aren’s name, begging him not to leave her behind. When the reaches the harbor, she ties her horse up and dives into the water. Soldiers arrive, pointed in the direction of the water by the townspeople who overheard her cries. They assume Lara’s group is on the water and signal the ships to start patrolling. When they leave to gather the town’s fishermen to help search the shore, Lara sneaks from the water and follows a river inland until she reaches a small cave.

Aren rides with Lara’s sisters for ten minutes before they have to stop to address Bronwyn’s wound. Cresta worries that her sister will bleed to death. When Aren questions the plan, Cresta explains that they are following the river to a small cave where their sister, Sarhina, waits with the supplies Aren and Lara will need for their journey.

At the cave, Aren reunites with his Nana, but she is swiftly drawn away to help with Bronwyn’s wound. Lara arrives shortly after. She and Cresta help Nana while Aren remains outside. Sarhina finds Aren and urges him not to give up on his kingdom.