Ghost of Madrigal Thornwhisper's Arc

Chapter 4 of 4

The bells kept ringing along the line, and Madrigal drifted to where Winter stood braced on his staff, watching the markers sway. He did not look at her. "You warned me," he said. "Two hundred years back. The deep roots. I told you to let it rest." His voice was flat. "I was wrong to bury your work." Madrigal touched the small carved oak at her chest. The creature struck another cord east, farther from the old one. "You build the line now," she said. "I hold it." Winter nodded once, hard. The wall was hers tonight — the line he should have built then, standing because she stayed.