Chapter 384

Jorick didn't wait for Verchiel, but led them back toward the cabin. They were nearly to the clearing when the red-haired Executioner dropped down from the trees, clutching a fluffy owl. "I think you need to pull the feathers off."

Etsuko took the bird from him and bowed. "Thank you, Verchiel-sama. I will be happy to prepare this."

Oren's eyebrows shot up. "Do you know how?"

"It should not be much different than pheasant. It's a shame we do not have dishes, but we will make do."

Something about her cheerful attitude irritated Katelina.

When they'd eaten, they left the shelter of the trees and headed back to the clearing. They ran into Ume behind the hangar. She was perched on an old oil drum and stared pensively into the distance. Katelina followed her eyes to a green coil at the edge of the horizon. It looked like city lights reflected on the clouds; if the city was the Emerald City.

Katelina's first thought was aliens, but Jorick said, "I believe it's the Northern Lights."