“Quickly,” Thael said as Verena’s cadre held her down, giving her a leather belt to bite down on.

The arrow was lodged into her left shoulder, its head, she knew, was jutting out of her back. Every Wraith had training in handling such wounds. None were trained in how to handle such wounds with tender care. Hands pinned her limbs to the ground.

They had landed on a field, the sunset shining from the drops of dew dripping down the long grass.

“Is the dagger ready?” Thael asked.

“Another moment should do,” one of the men answered.

Verena raised her head to see one of the Wraiths squatting beside a campfire, holding a glowing dagger over the flames.

“It’s ready,” he declared.

“Set her to her right side,” Thael ordered. “Stay as still as you can, Verena.”

He immediately snapped the arrow in two. Her shoulder ruptured as its shaft splintered apart. Verena screamed around the leather strap. There was the sizzle and stench of searing flesh.

The pain blinded her momentarily and some bitter liquid was spilled into her mouth before she was gone.

She awoke to find Thael sitting beside her, the others sleeping in a circle around the dwindling campfire. She winced and touched her bandaged shoulder, cursing herself for her foolishness.

Thael looked down upon her. He held out his water flask, already uncorked.

Verena drank with greedy gulps, gasped, and rested back on her bedding.

“You’re lucky you’re alive,” Thael said, staring into the stretch of forest behind them. “A few inches lower and it would have been your heart.”

“We shouldn’t have been there,” Verena said. “The sylven weren’t expecting an attack.”

Thael shrugged. “They never do. Wraiths in name and meaning, remember?”

“Who is to say they were even harboring an Exiled? It doesn’t make sense. They just wanted peace.”

“They were quick enough to act.”

“After we… killed their elders.” Verena shivered despite the warm breeze, closing her eyes. “Younglings.”

“You know our orders. There was no choice.”

She stared up at the night sky, unfathomable in its vastness, brushed with purples, indigo, and bright blues. Stars dazzled and danced around the white moon. Her head was muddled, everything more intense and lucid than ever.

“You had a choice back then. You had a choice today,” she said softly. “We all choose to follow the Grey will. But it’s not really the Council’s will, is it, if they only follow the arch queen?”

“Careful, Verena,” Thael warned.

“We’re as trapped as these stars,” she continued. “Destined to stay in place for all time. We fade away and perhaps another star takes our place the next night.”

“We do what we must,” Thael gazed skyward. “It’s either us or them. The heavens can fall for all I care.”

“If you care for nothing what is there to live for?” Verena wondered. “Do you care for anything, Thael?” She propped herself up and leaned towards him. “Do you care for me?”

Thael stared back at her, their faces inches away. “The rud you took has addled your mind. You should rest before we fly again at dawn.”

She held his shoulder and whispered into his ear, “Say it.”

He pried her hand away and stood. “You should rest. I’ll wake you before dawn.”

She collapsed back to the ground, lying down on her uninjured side so that she hid from Thael the tears that slipped down her face.