Ovelia's POV
Ace's arms were like iron bands around me, his body trembling slightly against mine. The warm cedar-and-leather scent of him surrounded me, but beneath it I caught the acrid tang of fear-sweat. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird, each frantic beat echoing the unspoken question - what horror was he shielding me from?
"Khaleed," Chief Gareth's voice cut through the buzzing in my ears, deeper and rougher than usual, "get some men to handle these... remains on the road. Once it's cleaned up, tell the villagers the situation's contained." The pause before 'remains' made my stomach twist.
"Right away, Chief!" Khaleed's boots scuffed against dirt as he hurried off, his footsteps fading into the distance.
My fingers dug into Ace's tunic. "What bodies? What happened? Is R—?" The words tumbled out in a breathless rush, my voice rising with each syllable.
