Carissa and the others were sent to wait outside while the generals held a private


    meeting, weighing their options and maybeing up with other ns.


    Bun squatted in the corridor and nced up at Travis. "You''re an official now. Tell


    me, what chance of sess do we really have if we go?"


    Travis looked at Carissa. "What do you think?"


    "It will be difficult, no doubt. But this n stands a better chance than sending a


    whole troop, and it carries less risk. Even if we fail, at least we can retreat safely,"


    Carissa answered.


    Cynthia nodded in agreement. "That''s right. Running away is our specialty."


    Violet shot her a sharp look. "Running away is our specialty? You mean our


    Lightfoot Skill. We''re the best at that."


    Cynthia grinned. "That''s what I said! If not us, then who else? This mission''s made


    for us."


    Just then, a guard approached and reported that Barrett and Aurora were


    requesting an audience. Carissa straightened instantly, her eyes wary. They


    couldn''t be allowed to repeat past mistakes in Fawnrun City.


    From inside the study came Dominic''s voice: "Have them wait outside for now."


    The guard nodded and took Barrett and Aurora to wait just beyond the door.


    When the two of them saw Carissa and the others, their expressions grew


    Aurora nudged Barrett with her elbow and sneered. "Your old friend is here, yet


    you won''t even go say hello?"


    Barrett looked embarrassed, ncing uncertainly at her before stepping aside to


    wait.


    Aurora chuckled and gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder. "Why so shy all


    of a sudden? She''s only an acquaintance. There''s no harm in a proper greeting."


    Cynthia eyed Aurora curiously. "Madam, is that your son or your brother? And is


    he truly close to Cari? How can you say they''re old friends?"


    "Who are you calling madam?" Aurora asked sharply, her expression turning dark.


    Cynthia looked at her carefully, a


    little confused. She hadn''t meant to


    insult Aurora. It was just that ever


    since thetter arrived at Victory


    Pass from the capital, she had


    looked worn and weary from the


    long, difficult journey. Her face had


    grown sallow and drawn, and the


    past two days of battle had left her


    exhausted and looking older than


    her years.


    Aurora also had rather high cheekbones, which made her eyes look more sunken


    than they truly were. Her hair, ttened and greasy from wearing a helmet for


    days on end, added even more to the impression of age.


    In truth, Carissa and the others looked little better, but Cynthia had known them


    since childhood. In her eyes, they were all still young, which was why she wouldn''t


    mistake their age.


    "Then... Miss?" Cynthia tried again.


    "I''m not much older than any of you! Stop making it sound as though I''m ancient! I


    can''t stand your snide looks and tone. Since we don''t see eye to eye, there''s no


    need to speak further. Hold your tongue!" Aurora snapped, still angry.


    Cynthia was about to argue that Aurora had spoken first, but Violet tugged at her


    sleeve.


    "Enough. Listening to them is like hearing madness. Let''s keep our distance,"


    Violet whispered sharply, then looked at Aurora coolly, folding her arms as she


    waited calmly.


    Cynthia nodded and kept quiet.


    Aurora was fuming, biting back a


    retort to Violet. Having already told


    them to be silent, it would be


    embarrassing if she argued further.


    She moved toward Barrett, speaking


    in a low voice but clear enough for


    Carissa and the others to hear.


    "How could ady of noble birth ever look twice at rough soldiers like us, soaked


    in blood and battle?"


    Her words sounded half like


    self-deprecation but carried a proud


    edge. However, no one paid her any


    mind. It was nonsense to speak of


    nobility here. Everyone here had


    risked their life on the battlefield.


    Who wasn''t a soldier covered in


    blood?


    Carissa felt a little dazed. She hadn''t heard such words from Aurora in some time,


    and hearing them again made her feel awkward for the woman.


    Barrett didn''t respond either. He had already heard once from the matchmaker


    that Carissa had no interest in him. Hearing it again now still left a bitter taste, but


    this wasn''t the ce to argue, nor was there any need.


    If she didn''t like him, then she didn''t like him. To press the matter would only make


    him look foolish.