Chapter 26 The Waiting

• The inn felt different without Roderick.
• It was strange how quickly someone became part of the rhythm of a place. He had only been with us for a few weeks, but his presence had settled into the walls like the heat from the hearth. Now that he was gone, the kitchen felt quieter, the dining room emptier, even when every table was full.
• Kaelen was restless. He spent the first day pacing between the counter and the window, scanning the road for any sign of a returning rider. By the second day, he had stopped pacing and started sharpening every blade in the inn, including the kitchen knives I had already sharpened myself.