“This was the right thing to do, I hope,” Verin said.
“I think that the conventional standards of morality and what is ‘right’ are inapplicable in times of war.”
“But we’re not at war.” Jarryn rounded on the speaker and Leander could tell that he was restraining himself with the thinnest sliver of self-discipline.
Nothing more was said.
Eventually, Venser spoke up. “Come on, we have a few hours until dawn, when my compulsion wears off and they turn around and head back to Nevari. I want to be well and truly gone by then.”
Chancing a glance at Jarryn, Leander was disheartened to see what he expected. Jarryn was still visibly enraged, with furrowed brows and a piercing glare as he watched the Desannian soldier’s silhouettes shrink into the distance. The prince nodded and turned, briefly meeting Leander’s gaze. His features were etched with displeasure. Words failed the demigod.
He could only hope that Jarryn would give him a chance… with time.
“Leander.”
The sound of a woman’s voice had the whole group turning, half of them drawing weapons in shocked preparation.
The Goddess of Nature, Taskevi, stood there with a serene smile gracing her features. Beside her, coming before him in the flesh for the first time in months, was his mother.
“Come here, Leander,” Taskevi beckoned softly.
Leía also bore a smile, one of pride, as she met her son’s gaze. “Hello, Leander,” she greeted warmly.
Leander’s feet carried him forward, towards the twogoddesses.
Around him, the Vyrican members of the group knelt to their patron. Only Jarryn remained standing, and Cade, who mimicked his prince.
Leía’s tranquil gaze turned from her son to the Vyrican men’s genuflections and spoke to them. “Please, rise.”
They straightened up, and Leander saw that some of them (not his brothers) had absurd grins plastered across their faces. It was strange, he thought, for him to be one of them but also so at ease around divinity. A son of two worlds now, he wasn’t sure if he should have bowed too.
“In deciding your punishment,” Taskevi broke Leander out of his reverie, “I wanted to see if you could care, and I mean really care, about something that was not your own. I expected you to meander through life much like you had in our realm, and you did, for a time. But you surpassed my expectations.”
There was a pause. Leander winced but didn’t speak, knowing Taskevi wasn’t finished. He shuffled a little, uncomfortable at having an audience bear witness to this.
“Desperation is a fickle thing. It exhibits both the best and the worst in people. It distinguishes the ordinary from the extraordinary. You, Leander, have always been the latter. You just needed reminding of that fact,” Taskevi finished.
Leía stepped forward and reached for Leander, who she drew into a hug that lasted long enough for the walls around Leander to come crashing down.
“You’ve burnt so bright, my son. I’m so proud of you.”
Leander’s shoulders shook with the weight of everything that had happened in the last few months. Hecollapsed into the comforting embrace of his mother. Forgetting his audience, he freely allowed the tears to stream down his cheeks. His voice trembled as he recounted his brush with death.
Leander had always loved his divine powers. He’d always been so used to them, so when he had learned that he was to bear punishment by being turned mortal, it had truly changed his life.
If he had had his divine gifts…
Oh, what did it matter? He couldn’t. But he didn’t. He could understand Jarryn Eleinium, in a way, now.
Leía held him close, offering silent support, her presence was like a soothing balm to his wounded soul. She hushed him as her hand stroked the long hair on his head. She didn’t need to do anything, just be there for him as he hit breaking point.
Eventually his heaving sobs calmed. But Leander didn’t immediately pull away. He hadn’t been held by his mother in decades, and he hadn’t even appreciated just how much he needed it.
Wiping his eyes, Leander finally pulled away and managed a wobbly smile, nonverbally confirming that he was okay.
“You valued Jarryn’s life over your own,” Leia smiled softly as she wiped a final stray tear from her son’s cheek with her thumb. “We wanted you to find strength in the love of another, and you did. So beautifully.”
Maybe he had, briefly. But he did not dare look behind to see Jarryn. He feared what he would see. Were the affections of the displaced prince lost forever?
