The town of Kelmar appeared through morning fog three days after they left the mountains.
Gabriel stopped at the ridge overlooking the settlement. His eyes scanned the streets below, cataloguing movement, counting people, searching for threats his enhanced senses could detect from this distance.
Tess caught up, breathing harder than she should have been. The pace Gabriel set was brutal. He forgot to slow down. Forgot she couldn't move the way he could now.
"Sorry," he said without looking back.
"You keep saying that." Tess bent forward, hands on her knees. "Doesn't make it easier."
Gabriel's attention remained fixed on Kelmar. Something felt wrong. The streets were too quiet.
They descended the ridge and entered through the main gate.
The guards barely glanced at them. Their faces carried the exhaustion of men who'd been on duty too long without relief. One of them had a fresh bruise across his jaw.
