Ephemeral and Fleeting

Turmoil had erupted in the midst of camp. When the three Oathtaker friends neared, they followed several others headed toward the wagon that Trumble shared with his charge, Felicity, and his friend, Raiden.

Basha pushed her way to the middle of a gathered crowd, just as Trumble arrived from the other side. “What is it?” she asked him, her eyes wide.

“It’s— I don’t know! I just got here. I—”

Mara reached them. “What’s happened?”

The back flap of the tent opened with a loud crinkling sound, and Felicity peeked out. With Trumble’s assistance, she made her way down, trembling all the while.

“I’m sorry I frightened everyone,” she said, pulling a blanket over her shoulders.

“There’s no need to be sorry,” Mara said. “What happened?”

Felicity put her arms around Trumble’s waist. “They’re coming for them,” she said before burying her face in his chest.

He held her tightly. “For who, Felicity?”

“For the girls.”

“The twins? Reigna and Eden?”

“Well . . . yes . . . but for others, as well.”

He pulled back, then with a finger beneath her chin, tilted her head up. “I don’t understand,” he said. “What girls?”

Still shaking, she closed her eyes. “All of them. All they can . . . get.”

“Do you know who’s doing this?”

“The men in black.” Then she buried her face again in his chest.