Soon, the sound of cheering woke her. She stirred groggily and noticed a coat had been draped over her shoulders. But as she sat up, it slipped to the floor. So, she picked it up and then left it on the chair.
Stepping outside, she saw fireworks lit up the night sky, drawing bursts of excitement from the crowd gathered there.
Not long after, Darlene spotted her and immediately pulled her into the celebration. “Come on, have some barley wine and enjoy the fireworks with us!” she invited, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
“It’s a party for Terence,” Darlene explained, pouring her a drink. “This mission couldn’t have succeeded without him.”
The haze of confusion in Halle’s mind cleared instantly. She then felt Terence’s gaze from across the crowd and turned to meet his eyes.
But just as their gazes locked, Terence raised his cup, looked away, and downed his drink. He always avoided her like this. He’d been like that for years.
She thought back to the man who once taught her how to navigate by the stars, took her to see the beauty of the mountains, and crafted a one-of-a-kind compass just for her.