Chapter 297: Shroud

Frederick Of course he would have gone back. It was several weeks before he heard of the war that had started in Blackthorn. His mind often drifted to his nephews and niece, hoping to reach out to them somehow. "I know you’re worried," Ariel said to him. The familiar scent of the herbal tea she was drinking had already become a part and parcel of her presence. It gave the air around her a distinct smell. The forest, however, was now easier to navigate. A newly paved road cut across the dense woods, allowing for a half-day’s journey thanks to Baron’s funding. "If any idiot tries to come up with another plan for war, we will be there quickly," Baron had said when he had pressured the council into commissioning the road and blessing it. "And fully aware of what would happen if you hate the road. You’ll hex it, yes?" "I believe in hexes," Ariel had joked, smiling. Having a soft spot for Baron, she had allowed it without much fuss. Currently, Frederick sat in front of her cottage, whic