Nine full days had passed since Jax and Astrid stepped through that void gate.
The first seven were spent traveling toward Sylvie's kingdom. It wasn't the closest destination, but it was infinitely better than seeking help from some dragon kingdom where neither of them had any connections or allies.
Seven days with the usually talkative Astrid who wasn't showing the energy.
Seven days where they barely exchanged more than a single line of conversation.
They camped when exhaustion demanded it. Ate in complete silence. Survived on the provisions Nerith had lovingly prepared for their journey.
The only time they uttered a word properly was when they encountered beasts or bandits along the way. And by "word," it meant they both unleashed their pent-up frustration on whatever poor creature crossed their path.
The beasts were merely victims of their anger. Innocent creatures that happened to exist in the wrong place at the wrong time.
