Ayla led them through the ruins of the village, and eachof them grew more and more mournful as they looked around at the destruction. “Wyverns flying overhead are not uncommon, nestled by the mountains as we are, but we have always maintained a peaceful coexistence with the creatures. This attack was unprovoked.”
“So your missive said,” Lucien agreed as he walked beside Ayla, the other three trailing behind. “Perhaps there was an unconscious threat. Wyverns don’t attack humans without cause.”
“As we thought, but if one of the survivors knows of a cause, they have not come forward.”
“I merely wonder so that we may prevent a travesty like this from occurring again.”
Ayla nodded. “That is my wish too.” She drew to a halt in front of a large manor house. “I have opened my home to as many survivors as I can fit. Mainly families with young children and sudden orphans. They, the children, that is, are likely in the direst need of your arcane help.”
Lucien turned to his companions. “If you three will start tending to the children, I will go with Ayla and support her with organising the village.”
When Verin, Jarryn, and Leander nodded their understanding, Lucien left with the mayor’s daughter.
Turning to Verin, Leander awaited instructions. His brother was looking through the open doors into the manor’s dining room, where the table had been pushed to the side and makeshift beds had been laid out. A few healers bustled about. There were no cries or screams, but children sat with tear streaks running down soot-covered faces, staring off into the distance.
“Remember, we are not to remove these emotions, onlysoothe them in order that the children might process them a little more gently.”
“Verin…” Verin had started towards the room but stopped as Leander called to him. “I don’t know if I have enough control over my Aesthesia to do this properly.”
Verin stared down his brother for a moment before sighing. “You’re probably right. Okay, new plan: Leander will engage the children and Your Highness, you and I will weave our magic.”
“Sounds reasonable,” Jarryn agreed, a look of sorrowful determination on his face.
Leander followed the other two into the dining room and looked around. Many of the children glanced up as they came in. Though he wasn’t comfortable actively using Aesthesia to alter the emotions of these children, Leander was quite happy to use it passively to feel them. Finding the spot in the room where the grief and shock was the most profound, he headed over to that child.
The girl looked to be a pre-teen, maybe a little younger. Her long and curly hair was dirty blonde, not that you would know it from the soot that covered it. Her plain dress was not in any better condition. Her face was blank, but the emotions radiating off of her were a relentless storm within, a tempest of anguish that was engulfing her very soul. Leander felt the seams of his own soul tearing just by being proximal to this suffering.
Forcing a soft smile on his face, he came to sit by the little girl. “Hello, sweetheart. My name is Leander, what’s yours?”
The girl didn’t answer, but Leander wasn’t put out, as he had not expected an easy run at this.
“I came here on a horse. Perhaps in the morning I can introduce you to her. Would you like that, hmm?”
At least the girl was looking at him, but beyond that, there was very little reaction from the girl as he tried to engage her in conversation. He made a few more attempts, all of which failed.
Leander glanced up at Verin, who was kneeling on the other side of the girl. His brother nodded further encouragement. Bolstered, the demigod shifted to get more comfortable on the makeshift straw mattress and tried again.
“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Leander finally asked.
The turmoil bubbled and Leander felt Verin working beside him to bottleneck the emotions, slow feeding them rather than allowing a tidal wave to drown the girl.
“It’s alright, you’re safe now, sweetheart.” Leander’s tone was soft and reassuring. “Tell me what happened. You’re very brave for enduring such a horrible ordeal.”
Quietly, the girl began to recount her harrowing experience during the wyvern attack. Her voice was a hoarse whisper to start with but grew in strength as she continued.
Leander listened attentively, offering comfort with every word the girl spoke.
When she was finished, Leander was vaguely aware that her emotions were significantly calmer, not nearly as intense. Verin had managed to soothe her feelings.
“You are incredibly strong, sweetheart. Thank you for sharing your tale with me.” Leander squeezed his armaround the girl’s torso and hugged her into him. “Do you think you want to try to sleep now, darling?”
The girl considered, then nodded.
“Okay then.” Leander moved off the mattress and allowed the girl to lie down, pulling the thin blanket up over her. “Sweet dreams, you brave, brave girl.”
Standing as the girl closed her eyes, Leander smiled at Verin.
“Good job, Leander.” It was Jarryn who spoke, and Leander glanced over at the prince, surprised to find him also smiling.
