The visitors had not been allowed properly into the village yet. They stood just beyond the main line, close enough to speak but not close enough to move freely.
Isabella noticed one more thing at once.
Only Zyran was at her immediate side now.
She looked around.
Cyrus was nowhere to be seen.
Her chest tightened for one ugly second.
Then a thought rose in her mind so quickly it almost made her angry at herself.
"These people are from Fifth City."
If they were from Cyrus's city, then maybe he had chosen not to appear. Or worse, maybe he had left to avoid being seen.
That thought stabbed her much harder than she expected.
Before it could take deeper root, footsteps approached from the side.
Isabella turned.
And saw him.
Cyrus was coming toward them, but his appearance had changed.
