[Ovelia's POV]
The sudden shift in atmosphere made the hairs on my arms stand up. Philip's words had wiped all traces of laughter from the room, leaving behind faces hardened with grim determination. A cold weight settled at the base of my skull as I watched Ace's jaw tighten, his fingers flexing unconsciously at his sides.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. We hadn't come to Thunoa Village for a holiday. The bandits terrorizing these roads—attacking merchants, ambushing travelers, disrupting vital supplies bound for Silverhowl's lantern festival—needed to be stopped. I might not be as strong as the others, but I wanted to help. In whatever way I could.
