After saying my goodbyes to Eloise, I stepped back out into the warm afternoon sun. Jake and my guard detail fell into a comfortable formation around me as we began the slow, easy walk back up the winding stone path toward the pack house. My satchel felt a little heavier against my hip, full of herbs and ideas for brewing an elixir, but my mind was light.
"Your Grace!"
The familiar call made me turn toward a small bench near the edge of the village green. Sam was standing up, waving a hand to catch my attention, a bright, unmistakable grin across his face. Sitting in her wheelchair right beside him was Liz. Though she was still seated, her posture was upright and her skin bloomed with a healthy color that had been entirely absent just weeks ago.
"Sam! Liz!" I smiled, changing course and
