He had expected to be held captive in some confined space. Instead, they brought him into the longhouse.
However, his heart kept hammering against his ribcage. Though he had told himself that his life wouldn't be in danger, he still couldn't help but feel uncertain.
He wasn't chained or blindfolded.
He had been observing the village for more than a week now. However, despite that, the structure around him looked rather organized, and the village was much livelier than what he had seen from afar.
Kael walked a half-step behind him, and there were two other people who appeared to be guards following him.
Their stance was respectful in a manner that didn't suggest he was being held captive.
The little girl he had helped had been handed off to a female at the gate. Perhaps her mother, he guessed. Before parting from him, she had waved at him from her mother's shoulder, her bright smile almost contagious.
