The old watchtower was already disappearing behind them when the sun finally climbed above the hills.
Mist drifted across the road, hanging low over the grasslands. The tournament grounds were nearly two days behind them now, but the bruises and bandages made it feel much closer.
Deren stretched in the saddle beside Kaelen and let out a dramatic groan.
"I've decided I hate horses."
Maeve looked over.
"You've been riding since you were eight."
"I've spent my whole life lying to myself."
"They're literally walking."
"They're walking maliciously."
Seralyn, riding a few paces ahead, didn't even turn around.
"You complain more than old men."
Deren looked offended.
"I'll have you know I have excellent reasons."
Maeve folded her arms.
"Go on."
"My back hurts."
"You got hit once."
"My pride hurts."
"You lost."
"I know I lost."
"You cried."
"I absolutely did not cry."
Kaelen glanced sideways.
"You screamed."
Deren pointed at him immediately.
"You are the last person who gets to judge me. You nearly died three separate times."
"I counted two."
Maeve stared at him.
"You counted?"
"I had time."
She sighed heavily.
"That's somehow worse."
The conversation died for a few moments.
Wind moved through the trees that lined the road. Somewhere deeper in the forest, birds called to one another.
Deren broke the silence first.
"So..."
Nobody answered.
"So," he repeated, "what happens now?"
Maeve shrugged.
"We go home."
"No, I mean after that."
"The assignment ceremony."
"I know that part."
He looked at Kaelen.
"What do you think they'll do with us?"
Kaelen thought for a moment.
"Probably split us up."
The words landed harder than he expected.
Maeve looked away.
Seralyn slowed her horse until she was riding beside them.
"They usually do."
Deren frowned.
"What?"
"The instructors told us during first year. Tournament teams almost never stay together."
"That's stupid."
"It's practical."
"No, it's stupid."
Maeve nodded.
"For once, I agree with him."
Seralyn looked genuinely surprised.
"You do?"
Maeve laughed quietly.
"I've spent almost a year watching you three idiots get into trouble. I'd rather not start over with strangers."
Deren grinned.
"So you admit you'd miss us."
"I said no such thing."
"You implied it."
"I absolutely didn't."
"You called me an idiot."
"That's because you are one."
"A lovable idiot?"
"No."
"A slightly charming idiot?"
"No."
"A heroic idiot?"
Maeve stared at him for several seconds.
"...I'll give you idiot."
Deren sighed dramatically.
"I'll take what I can get."
Even Seralyn smiled.
Kaelen found himself laughing with them.
The sound surprised him.
A year ago, he wasn't sure he would ever laugh again.
The road bent around a hill, revealing an old stone bridge crossing a narrow river.
The group stopped to water the horses.
Deren immediately sat down on the edge of the bridge.
"My legs are dead."
"You've been sitting all morning," Seralyn said.
"They died peacefully."
Maeve walked over to the riverbank, kneeling to splash water across her face.
Kaelen joined her.
For a while they simply listened to the water moving beneath the bridge.
Finally, Maeve spoke.
"You know..."
"Hm?"
"I was angry at you."
Kaelen looked at her.
"For winning?"
She rolled her eyes.
"No."
"Then what?"
She picked up a small stone and threw it into the river.
"When Rhess knocked you down... and you stood back up..."
She stopped.
Kaelen waited.
"I was angry because you looked like you didn't care if you died."
He looked back toward the bridge where Deren was unsuccessfully trying to convince Seralyn to race him across it.
"I cared."
"It didn't look like it."
"I just..."
The words refused to come.
Maeve watched him quietly.
"You don't have to tell me."
"I know."
Another silence.
Then Kaelen said, almost too softly to hear,
"There was someone once."
Maeve didn't ask who.
She simply nodded.
"I figured."
"I couldn't save her."
The river carried the words away.
Maeve looked down at the ring on her hand.
"You know..."
"What?"
"I almost gave this back after the tournament."
Kaelen blinked.
"Why?"
"Because Deren is an asshole."
Kaelen laughed.
"That's fair."
"He kept looking at me with that stupid smile."
"He does that."
"He asked if we'd picked names."
Kaelen nearly choked.
"He what?"
Maeve nodded seriously.
"I told him if he asked again, I'd throw him off a cliff."
"Reasonable."
"I thought so too."
They both looked toward the bridge.
Deren was now trying to balance on the railing.
Seralyn stood nearby with her arms crossed.
"If you fall," she was saying, "I'm not climbing in after you."
"You would absolutely save me."
"I'd tell the fish you fought bravely."
Maeve smiled despite herself.
"You know..."
"What?"
"I think I'd miss this."
Kaelen followed her gaze.
The four of them.
The road.
The arguing.
The quiet moments between battles.
"So would I," he admitted.
A loud splash echoed across the river.
Both of them turned.
Deren surfaced, sputtering.
"I slipped!"
Seralyn looked down from the bridge.
"You leaned too far."
"I was demonstrating balance!"
Maeve sighed.
"I changed my mind."
Kaelen raised an eyebrow.
"I hope the fish appreciate him."
For the first time since the tournament ended, all four of them laughed together.
None of them noticed the old carving hidden beneath the bridge.
Centuries of moss covered most of the stone, but one symbol remained visible.
A black crown surrounded by ash.
And as the river flowed beneath it, the mark seemed to watch them pass.