Even though the sun had barely risen, Erend knew Adrien, Billy, and Jessica were already awake and working.
After everything that had happened, he knew that none of them could truly rest. Ironically, he had managed to sleep—really sleep—for the first time in a while, and it had steadied him far more than he expected.
When he pushed the door open, the three turned toward him at once.
Their faces held the same expression of expectation, caution, and relief.
He had disappeared without saying much after explaining that he was failing the mission with the other Dragonborn, and they all had assumed he needed time to breathe and pull himself together.
They hadn't questioned it. They understood.
But the way Erend stood now he looked calm, focused, and ready. It made them sit up a little straighter.
