Out of the Shadow at Last novel · Chapter 24 of 24

Chapter 24: Out of the Shadow

We rode south at dawn, five days after the Fair, with the whole of Northgate's road behind us.

Ivar rode on my left, and Bram on my right, complaining about his saddle.

Anders and Posy had gone ahead to open the Tower.

The Rooke Pack was waiting in the courtyard when we came through the gate.

Four hundred wolves stood where they had stood on the day of the cloak.

The dais was still there, and so was the shadow of the Moon Tower across the flagstones, long and blue in the morning.

I looked for my silver pack ring.

It lay on the bottom step, where I had left it.

Nobody had dared to move it.

I got down from the horse.

The courtyard went quiet in a wave, from the gate to the Tower door.

Posy stood at the top of the dais steps.

Anders stood beside her with his sword at his belt, and a new grey in his hair that hadn't been there a fortnight ago.

"Moon Watcher," he said, and bowed his head.

It was the first time anyone from my own pack had said it, and I felt it in my knees.

"Rise, Anders."

"I've held the pack in trust," he said. "The council wants it settled. You can take it, if you want it."

"I don't want a pack," I said. "I want a door."

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