A River Enchanted

Jack wakes in a cave with Adaira beside him. He dreamed of the west while unconscious and thinks that his mind may have traveled there. He and Adaira discuss what Bane said, and Jack asks to speak with his mother privately first, to see if she will tell him the truth. They descend the mountain, Adaira helping Jack. She notices he now has a streak of silver in his hair. They reach the bottom and see that their horses fled during the storm. Jack tells Adaira to leave him behind, but she refuses. They continue on the road until Torin finds them and informs them that Alastair has died.

Torin watches Adaira at Alastair’s funeral and burial. The clan embraces Adaira in her grief, and Torin wants to speak to her, but cannot. After the burial, he sits in silence beside Adaira as she sits in her father’s chair, his signet ring on her hand. The wound that took his voice is almost healed, thanks to the fire spurge salve Sidra applies to it, but he still cannot speak. Adaira asks him if he would support her if she declared war on the Breccans; he hesitates, thinking of the ghosts from his dreams, but still nods.