Chapter 189: Acceptance

ELIA

Two hours later, they were both dressed and quiet. She sat, cross-legged in the grass just back from the cliff-edge, looking out over the beauty of the WildWood, from the safety of distance.

The metaphor that offered for her current situation was not lost on her.

Reth paced the grass behind her, muttering to himself. She'd watched him for a while, but he said he was practicing his words for when they spoke to the people. All she heard were tortured grunts, and muttered curses.

Hearing his frustration only fed the fires of anger inside her, so she'd turned away.

Because as she'd sat there, first feeling sorry for herself, then for Reth, it had occurred to her: Neither of them was really to blame for this.

The elders were the ones who should be ashamed.