When Brandon and the men arrived back at the village, Estella was already waiting, her heart pounding with worry. She had been anxiously pacing the small space of her shop, Devon by her side.As soon as she saw them carrying Aris, her eyes widened in shock. “Chief, what happened?” she asked, rushing forward. Her voice was strained, barely concealing her panic.Brandong’s face was grave. “We found him in the forest,” he explained. “There was a huge fire, and after we managed to put it out, we found Aris unconscious on the ground. We didn’t see any intruders, only the flames.”Estella’s mind raced. “Bring him inside, quickly,” she ordered, leading them into her shop where the light of lanterns cast a warm glow over the wooden shelves lined with jars and herbs.The men carefully laid Aris on the table Estella had cleared. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, his breathing was shallow and labored. Estella’s heart ached at the sight, but she forced herself to remain calm.“Devon, fetc
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