Not trust. Not safety. But peace.
Which was rare enough to feel weird.
Ashwing made a sleepy noise, rolled over, and used Lindarion's thigh as a pillow.
"Comfortable?" Lindarion muttered.
The dragon huffed like he paid rent and deserved more space.
He didn't move him.
Instead, he slid his pack out from under the bench, unlatched one of the smaller flaps, and pulled out the map Raleth had given him earlier. Folded tight. Edges worn like it had lived too many lives in someone's coat pocket.
He ran his fingers along the crease.
Still dry. Still intact.
No hidden curses, no illusions.
He flipped it open slowly. The parchment made a soft crinkle, loud in the quiet.
Lines. Marks. Elevation curves. Notes in faded ink. Most of it legible. Some of it wishful thinking.
He squinted.