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asked you to buy?”
    “Yeah, cost us a fortune,” he said bitterly. “Nobody wanted to part with the animals that survived.”
    “As long as we got them.”
    “We’re leaving tomorrow then?” he asked.
    “Yes. I don’t need the town thinking they can force us to stay again.” I paused. “Nason and his family will come with us too.”
    “Does Zadok and Myra know?” asked Ava.
    “I told them.”
    “I’m sure Zadok didn’t react well to us leaving.”
    “No.” I gestured toward the funeral pyre. “But at this point, we’re not saving anyone else. It’s time we looked out for ourselves. If what you said was true about the artifact, only Molak knows if the cursed thing is finished or not. If it isn’t, I want to get as far away as I can before the next eruption. If it is finished, I’d still like to start over in a place more forgiving than where we are now.”
    “You’re all right with leaving the people to fend for themselves?” asked Ava.
    I gave her an odd look, thinking at first she had to be joking. Up until a few days ago, the last thing she cared about was helping the people of Denu Creek. I looked away only to have her step into my path. She wanted an answer I wasn’t in the mood to give.
    Maybe she wanted to make sure I wouldn’t have any regrets about leaving. I likely would, but I’d just have to get over them.
    I was physically, mentally, and emotionally spent. I needed time to bond with my kids and make peace with Lasha’s death. I was tired of having people look to me for advice, tired of people counting on me, and tired of always being caught in the middle of things.
    I worked my jaw, carefully choosing my words.
    A roar from the town saved me the trouble of responding.
    People had gathered around the travelers and their wagon as it made its way through Main Street. It seemed like many of the same questions we had just posed to the stranger were being shouted by the throng. The wagon hurried its way through town, maneuvering through the natural fissures in the road while leaving behind an uproar. Mayor Rezub was in the middle of it all, trying to gain order among the townspeople. The man looked like a grounded bird, wildly flapping its wings.
    “I guess it’s safe to assume they heard about the raiders,” said Dekar.
    “Yeah,” I huffed. That would likely affect my plans.
    Sivan, the old tailor, worked his way through the crowd while leading a brown and white speckled mount. He got in the saddle, exchanged a few words with the mayor and took off toward us. He galloped past without stopping, but waved. He followed the trail from whence the wagon and fleeing family came, disappearing around the bend in the road.
    Damaris ran out of the group of townspeople, blonde hair flowing behind her, as she shouted at her father to come back. By that point, Sivan was well out of earshot.
    “What was that about?” I asked.
    “I don’t know, but the old man looked pretty comfortable in the saddle,” said Ira.
    I had to agree.
    “We’re not going to find out anything just standing around,” said Ava. She tapped me on the arm. “Go talk to Damaris.”
    “Why me?”
    “Yeah,” said Ira. “I could go ask.”
    “We’re trying to get information, not scare the woman off,” said Ava. “Besides, she looks upset and could use a kind word or two. Do you even have any of those in your vocabulary?”
    “Don’t start what you can’t finish,” began Ira, quickly working himself up again.
    Dekar cut in before it got out of hand. “Ava’s right, Tyrus. It’s obvious that Damaris has eyes for you. Who better to go find out what’s going on?”
    “What?”
    “Don’t sound surprised, big brother. She’s always watching you out of the corner of her eye. Didn’t you find it odd that after we rescued her, she always managed to work on clearing the same pile of rubble as you?”
    The realization chilled me despite the warm air. I hadn’t ever considered that, but it did make sense. The