The grown-ups started whispering more after that.
Alaric noticed because the whispers always began after they thought he'd gone to bed.
He lay on his mattress, eyes closed, breathing slow and even. Through the thin wall, his parents' voices floated over the faint crackle of the hearth.
"…can't just uproot everything," Tomas was saying. "Where would we even go?"
"Anywhere that isn't in the way," Marla replied. She sounded tired. "We heard it from the traveler. Now we've heard it from a soldier. If Buckland comes through, Shuru is just another field to trample."
"And you think we can just walk into Shersia?" Tomas asked. "With what? Two bags and a boy?"
"Other families have gone," Marla said quietly. "You saw the empty houses on the way back from market. We're not the only ones thinking about it."
Silence. Alaric held his breath without meaning to.
"I don't want to run," Tomas said at last. "I'm tired of running."
"I don't want to die in a ditch because you're stubborn," Marla snapped, then sighed. Her next words came out softer. "And I don't want Alaric to grow up in a place where the only thing we can do is hope someone else feels like protecting us."
Alaric's heart thumped painfully.
Tomas exhaled. "It's not that simple."
"I know." There was a small creak—Marla sitting down, maybe. "We don't have money for a wagon. We'd be on foot. If Buckland doesn't come, we'll have thrown away everything for nothing. If they do come, and we stay…"
She didn't finish.
"I'll talk to Berthold," Tomas said finally. "See if there's news from the south road. See what others are thinking. I'm not packing up tomorrow just because some general a monster, but…"
"But?"
"We'll watch the road," Tomas said. "We'll get the harvest in. And if it looks like they're really coming here…" His voice dropped. "Then we run."
"Promise me you won't let pride get in the way," Marla said. "Promise me you'll choose us over this house."
There was a long pause. Then Tomas said quietly, "I promise."
Alaric rolled onto his back, staring into the dark.
We might have to run. Leave the chickens. The fields. Harn's stories.
…Lena and Joren.
The thought felt like someone had scooped a hole out of his chest.
He lifted his hand automatically.
"Light."
A tiny flame appeared on his fingertip. The warm glow calmed him, just a little.
If we leave, at least… I can take this with me. And maybe learn more somewhere else.
He let the flame go and finally drifted into a shallow sleep, his parents' voices fading behind the walls.