Evaline:
For a long moment after River finished speaking, no one moved.
The forest around us had grown eerily quiet, as if even the wind had paused to listen. The fire in the pit crackled softly, orange and blue flames licking at the blackened logs, casting long shifting shadows across the pavilion.
My gaze stayed fixed on Morwen.
When I first came here, I thought forcing the truth out of the witches would be like trying to pry open a locked vault with bare hands. They were too guarded, too proud, too practiced in silence.
Even now, part of me expected Morwen to simply refuse again. To close herself off and end the meeting.
But as River's warning settled over the gathering like a storm cloud, something changed.
At first it was subtle - asmall tightening around Morwen's eyes, the faint tremor of breath leaving her lungs. Then her gaze shifted.
