Jaenor's merged power was depleted to dangerous levels. His companions were injured, exhausted, and barely standing. Pushing forward now would be stupid.
"We rest," he agreed.
"Find a secure position, establish watches, and recover our strength. Then we hunt Maude and finish this properly."
They moved away from the main battlefield, finding a defensible position among the ruins. Ba'narussa positioned herself protectively, her seven heads maintaining constant surveillance.
As Morgana worked on healing the wounded, as Rena distributed what food they had remaining, and as his companions settled into exhausted rest, Jaenor stood watch and thought about what came next.
*
Lilinathara didn't truly leave.
Jaenor realized this the moment his companions settled into rest. The pressure hadn't fully dissipated; it had simply... shifted. Become more subtle, less obvious, but still present. Still watching.
She was waiting for something. For him to be alone, perhaps. For his guard to drop.
