It took three days by carriage to get back to Ferndale, and every mile felt like a long time. Greg sat in the back of the Eternal Engine carriage, and Marina curled up next to him with a blanket around her shoulders.
She hadn't let go of his hand since they left the dungeon, as if she was afraid he would disappear if she did. He understood how she felt because he kept checking to see if she was still breathing.
Bork drove in silence, his usual joyful energy replaced by something more serious and quiet. Felix was sitting next to him in the front, and every now and then he would look back at Greg and Marina with a look that looked like guilt and relief.
Seraphine had fallen asleep on Mira's shoulder because she was worn out from days of using healing magic and keeping ice barriers up. Mira seemed quiet, too. She wasn't reorganizing things like she usually does. Instead, she just held Seraphine and looked out the window.
