Sai scowled at the farmhouse. The farmlands south of the Shadowed Citadel were as ruined as the hatchery at Somber Tune. But here, the destruction seemed deliberate. The fields were scorched, and the buildings ransacked. The farmhouse in front of him though, while singed, was still intact. It was in the Purrisien style, complete with the water tank outside for the cats' accursed incendiary fish. Something about it struck him as familiar, but he couldn't place it. Which was odd, since he'd only ever been to one Purrisien farming community. He looked back over his shoulder at the pillaged fields. It had looked much like this when the Horde was done with it.

  With a sigh, Sai pushed open the door to let his raptor inside. She soon chirped an all-clear, and he followed. The walls inside were also singed, and the air smelled of smoke, but the furnishings were all still present and undamaged. Sai wandered through the rooms. A simple but well-stocked dining room and pantry. A bedroom with two beds and a chest of handmade toys. In the master bedroom, a tall bookcase stood beside a single twin bed. "These are all written in Purrisien," Sai mused, glancing over the titles. He turned to the raptor. "How did a Purrisien farmhouse get stuck here?" he asked.

  "Skree?" asked the raptor.

  Sai sighed and scanned the room again. "Wait," he said, pointing at the bedstand. "Is that a journal?" He picked it up and flipped to the back.

  

  14-8: I spotted an orcish scout in the woods north of the pasture this morning. I don't expect it knew that it had been seen. They're here for the dwarves' tunnel. I knew when they started digging out to Coatli, the orcs wouldn't be far behind. I came to Champ-sur-Branche to get away from orcs. Looks like I'll never be free.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "Champ-sur-Branche?" Sai muttered. "I know that name. Why do I know that name?" He turned the page to the final entry.

  

  19-8: Now Jean has seen them. A female watched him drive the sheep. Not a scout. Not trying to hide. The raid will come soon. I'm going to send Jean to sell the flock and buy traveling supplies while Misha and I pack up here. We have to leave. I just hope it's not too late.

  "Jean…" Sai said, tracing his fingers over the scrawling handwriting of the journal. "Now I remember. Champ-sur-Branche was that cat settlement we razed." He snapped the journal shut and stared at its cover. "This must have belonged to Jean's father. Before I killed him."

  Sai threw the journal back onto the bedstand and shouted at the ceiling. "I know you're listening, Syn. And I know what you're doing. You're trying to make me feel guilty. To break my resolve. But I'll tell you the same thing I told Jean when he attacked me for killing his father." Sai clenched his fists. "I regret nothing. I was trying to buy them time to escape before Gretchen led the charge on their home, and his father attacked me. Watching me kill him convinced Jean and his mewling sister to clear out faster than the Horde could advance. So I saved them both. And I only had to kill one cat to do it."

  "Such utilitarian disregard for life," the shadows whispered. "You truly are one of mine."

  "I…" Sai said, but he faltered. "I'm not…"

  The shadows laughed. "Do you still regret nothing?" they asked.

  Sai searched for words, but none came at first. He set his jaw. "Death comes for us all," he hissed through clenched teeth, "and his death got him what he wanted. Freedom for his children. So yes. I still regret nothing."

  "Delicious," Syn said, and its presence faded, leaving Sai alone among the wreckage.