When they got back to the Great Root, the air was heavy and quiet, and Elder Fena was waiting for them just as she said she would be.
Mela stood beside her, looking serious, but they weren't the only ones there because the mercenary, Lola, was on her knees, her hands tied behind her back with thick, thorny vines.
"What's she doing here?" Nox asked, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene.
'She looks like crap.'
Lola looked up, and a tired, bitter smirk crossed her face when she saw him. "Look what the cat dragged in. Come back to finish the job, whelp?"
"My daughter captured her trying to sneak through our woods," Fena said, her voice flat and cold. "She was hunting you."
Serian moved a little closer to Nox, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. 'That woman is dangerous. Why is she still alive?'
Mela looked at Lola with a flash of anger, then her gaze shifted to Nox, her expression unreadable. 'I hope he doesn't think we're weak just because she ambushed us.'
