Bjarkë had men saddled and off in the direction that she left within half an hour. They were instructed to go all the way to her family's house if they didn't see her on the road, giving them some money for food and medicine. If the family didn't know where she was, they were to send word to Cameron Keep as soon as they knew. She only lived about three miles away. Given the passage of time, she might already be home.

All afternoon as she went about her duties, Ailene worried about the girl and wondered why it was taking so long to find her. When Bjarkë finally told...