The sun hung low in the sky by the time the Crescent Moon convoy reached the ridge overlooking Silverblade. Late afternoon light spilled across the valley in long amber streaks, catching the rooftops and treetops in a soft orange glow. The air carried that warm, quiet stillness that comes just before dusk—the kind that made even the trees seem to hold their breath.
Nathan pressed his small face to the car window, eyes wide, legs bouncing restlessly.
“Mommy, Mommy, are we here? Are we really here?”
His voice nearly cracked from excitement.
“We’re here, sweetheart,” Elaine said with a smile, brushing his hair away from his forehead. “Just a little longer.”
“And Auntie Roselyn is here too?” Nathan asked, practically vibrating.
“Yes,” she laughed. “Auntie Roselyn is here.”
“She said she
