Chapter 30: Family Ties Come Unraveled

"Do you think we should return to Runswick?" Saffron asked him as she chopped firewood. He was still too sore to lift an axe, so he helped stack the cut logs.

"I don't think that would be wise. Didn't Wulfstan say he would come find us when things were clear to return?" he replied and heaved another log onto the pile. His side ached fiercely but he didn't want to alarm Saffron, so he swallowed his grimace. He pressed a hand to where the pain was at its worst. His skin felt hot to the touch. Perhaps he would see if she could clean it again, although he was not looking forward to that painful ordeal.

"That he did, but how is he supposed to find us here? I am not even sure where exactly we are," she replied and wiped the sweat from her brow.

"Well, how long did it take for you to find this place?" Elric asked, wincing as his side twinged.

She furrowed her brow as she thought. "About three days, I would say."

"Do you recall seeing moss on the trees as you passed?" he asked. Her b