By the time Lunaris finished his smoked fish, Nova had learned that Hearthrest's suspicion of strangers did not stop its people from feeding hungry travelers.
Orven gave the Auri a shallow bowl of water and pointed Nova toward a bench beneath the roots. "Finish eating. Vessa will take you to Merra afterward. She came back from the Long Reach three days ago, and I won't have you questioning her before she's ready."
"Three days? You said the carriers left six days ago."
"They did. It took her most of a day to get home, and she spent the next two trying to sleep. You can see why I don't want you walking in and demanding answers."
Nova glanced toward the eastern trail. "I'm not planning to interrogate her. I want to know whether the other two can still be found."
"So do I," Orven replied. "One of them has eaten at my hearth for twenty years."
