Holly trod on the bouquet that had fallen from Bird's hands as she ran toward the forest, grinding the flowers into the dirt. As if a pretty gift could smooth over the hurt she saw in Bird's eyes!
She ground the flowers with her heel once more for good measure, and grabbing a full wineskin from someone caught up in the wizard's tricks, ran after her friend.
She found her, sitting in the shadow of a tree, at the river's edge. She was dry eyed and stared stonily at the passing water.
Holly sat down next to her and took a long pull on the skin, then passed it to her friend.
They sat in silence for a long while, with only the sound of the river to break the silence.
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Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
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