CHAPTER 39

ARIA'S POINT OF VIEW

Spring arrived in Heartstone Valley with a shy yet determined beauty. The battle-scorched earth sprouted resilient green shoots. The melting snow from the Highspire peaks swelled the river that wound around the camp, its song a cheerful counterpoint to the steady, determined murmur of rebuilding.

The “camp” was slowly evolving into something more permanent. Communal houses with wooden frames were beginning to rise alongside the tents, their designs a blend of Mar