[Evening]
[Ovelia's POV]
The wagon wheels creaked as we rolled along the dirt path, the last golden streaks of sunset fading into twilight. I turned to Ace, unable to ignore the nagging curiosity any longer.
"A," I began, studying his profile in the dimming light, "where did you three go earlier?"
Ace's fingers tensed slightly against the wooden bench beside him before he glanced at me, his brow furrowing. "Was Chief Gareth at home when you left?" He hadn't answered my question—just asked one of his own. The evasion settled cold in my stomach.
I pressed my lips together, my fingers tightening around the paper bag in my lap. "He was there before Ann and I went out," I said slowly. "I don't know if he's still there now."
Ace nodded. "Alright. Thanks." His voice was calm—too calm, the kind of calm that took effort. He was choosing his words carefully, and doing a poor job of hiding it.
I shifted my attention to Ray, determined to get an answer. "R, where did you—"
