Chapter 41

Raeve awakens in Kaan's camp after consummating their bond and spending intimate time together. Their comfortable domestic moment is interrupted when a message arrives: Siharna has gone into labor, and they must leave immediately.

Raeve wakes at Kaan's makeshift camp near a spring, where they have recently been intimate. She finds her clothes carefully folded and dried by Kaan, who sits by the fire preparing food. Their interaction is warm and flirtatious; Kaan mentions he has remained faithful to her memory and has not taken another to his bed. Raeve wears his málmr (a piece of jewelry or token) and learns about the uhloo—a braid tradition where she would braid her hair into his to return his honor and declare her intentions. Kaan notes he is currently considered unclaimed until she offers this gesture. Raeve observes that her bond with Líri has solidified further. When Kaan asks why she is afraid of fire, Raeve deflects but eventually reveals that fire "forged me into a monster"—suggesting past trauma. Kaan presses her for a name of who caused this, but Raeve refuses, asking him to leave the past buried. She moves to sit on his lap and kisses him softly. Their moment is interrupted by the arrival of a parchment lark messenger. Kaan reads it and immediately stiffens: Siharna has gone into labor and they must depart at once.