At dawn, before the sky had fully brightened, the baron's old carriage was already waiting before the gates of Crow's Nest. Several elderly veterans carrying simple luggage stood behind it, waiting for the baron.
The baron emerged from the gates in a worn brown coat, its collar neatly folded. The flush of drink had faded from his face, and his whole expression seemed far more relaxed than before.
He walked to the carriage, opened the door, and tucked Anna's old cloak more securely around her. Her body was still weak, but her complexion was much better than it had been in the swamp. She looked toward the gate through the carriage window and gave Ron a slight nod.
The baron turned and approached Ron. The two stood facing one another for a moment before he reached into his coat and took out a brass key—the key to the storage room in the castle's north tower, normally used to seal away weapon supplies.
"Tamara..." As the baron handed the key to Ron, it seemed there were still words caught in his throat.
"That child refuses to forgive me. I don't blame her." He paused. "If you get the chance someday, look after her for me. Don't let those witch hunters bully her."
"I will."
The baron nodded and looked at Ron before speaking. "From the first day you walked into Crow's Nest, I could smell it on you. You weren't some wild wolf coming to this rotten mudhole looking for food.
"I've held up this mess at Crow's Nest for too long. I know I don't have the ability to change it. I could only struggle as best I could."
He paused and shook his head. "I thought this swamp in Temeria would only keep rotting away. You showed me another