Raedwulf brings the unconscious Seris Vael toward Hearthhollow’s square, her wrists secured for lawful custody. Alyndra and Anewyn remain close, preserving the counter-charm’s proof over the directive.
Raedwulf offers Anewyn a brief smile, then looks intensely toward the eastern route where Sava has not returned. Behind them, the ward-ring pulses unevenly.
Alyndra
The charm still holds. Until witnesses arrive, no one can claim this directive was altered after Seris’s surrender.
Before the square can gather, the darkened eastern ward-stone projects pale tracks across the frost: the escort’s stolen passage, crossing the postern and splitting toward the healer’s house.
Anewyn
Cousin, look. The stones are showing where they went. And there is another sound behind the orchard.
Corven Hale
That passage was concealed from the ward. Sava must have followed the escort, but the trail shows at least two still moving within Hearthhollow.
Seris remains unconscious as Raedwulf carries her onward, while Alyndra keeps the directive glowing and Anewyn stays beside him. The square’s empty frost waits for witnesses, and Sava’s absence sharpens the silence.