The morning sun crept across the clearing, turning the dew-covered grass into a field of tiny, glistening diamonds. The air was cool, but the faint warmth of the sun hinted at a promising day. Lucien stood in the center of the space, his hands on his hips and a spark of enthusiasm in his eyes.
"This," he declared, gesturing grandly, "is where the cabin will go. A hearth here, maybe a sturdy table there." He pointed to the far end of the clearing. "We'll have the garden over there. I've seen good soil down by the stream."
He made it sound so easy, so inevitable. Like all they had to do was lay the first log, and the rest would fall into place. But Taryn knew better. She'd seen too many promises crumble into ash.
"And a training area for you, Warrior," he added, throwing her a grin over his shoulder. "Because I know you're dying to slice that dagger at Kah'el."