The familiar plume of wood smoke rising past the village wall is missing tonight.

Tuo left abruptly once without warning, and Dain can't honestly hold it against him to do so again, not when they can't speak openly. But he has to check, just to be sure. What if something's wrong? What if he can still catch his friend, still bid him farewell?

At least one of those suspicions is well-founded, because when Dain arrives, the wagon is still there -- just dark and cold. Fear grips his heart and he knocks quickly, uncharacteristically heedless of whether anyone might be watching.

"Tuo? Tuo, are you there? Alvi?"