The aftermath of the fortress siege weighed heavily on Damien as the convoy made its way back to Winter's Crown. The rebels had been subdued, their stronghold dismantled, and Veylin was now a prisoner in the palace dungeons. Yet, as Damien watched the horizon from his horse, he couldn't shake the feeling that the victory was fleeting.
Beside him, Amara rode in silence, her sharp blue eyes scanning the road ahead. Her usual smirk was absent, replaced by a rare quiet that mirrored Damien's own thoughts.
"You're thinking too hard again," Amara finally said, breaking the silence.
Damien didn't look at her, his steel-gray eyes fixed on the horizon. "I'm thinking about what comes next."
Amara raised an eyebrow. "Next? We've taken their leader, destroyed their stronghold, and dismantled their network. The rebellion's done."
