We’d also discussed my defensive capabilities, which were slim to none since I didn’t carry a shield. I’d have to rely on my speed and agility to dance out of the threat of my attacker. I was hesitant to test out whether Ross boasting about the metal around my arms being strong enough to act as a shield was true or not. I could only hope that it didn’t come to that because that was a lot of faith to place in him and his armor. Otherwise, I’d be sans an arm and potentially my life.
The further we ran through the forest, with no sight or sound of another being besides our group, the more I began to feel a sense of nostalgia washing over me.
There was a distinct scent of primrose filling the air and tickling my senses, which reminded me of the area that surrounded my village growing up. Despite having been on the outskirts of our town and on the opposite side of where the plant grew, there was always that sweet, but slightly tangy scent in the air.
It smelled like home. My very first home.
“What’s wrong?” Dakath asked, his voice gruff with concern as he glanced over in time to see me wipe a stray tear from my eye.
While it seemed silly to tell him that the smell of the flower was causing my emotion, I couldn’t deny that it sent a pang of sadness through me, causing my lips to thin and my eyes to burn as the memories of my childhood washed over me. When my father and aunt were still alive.
The strange thing about grief is that, at first, it felt so heavy to carry for so long, and then suddenly, one day, it began to lighten. With each passing day, those small movements built upon each other until it didn’t feel like a thick fog was weighing down your mind and body anymore. But then when that pain came back, sparked by a memory, place, smell, or whatever it may be, it was like you were transported right back to the first day that it felt impossible to move, to even breathe, without pain permeating every particle of your being all the way down to your soul.
“Just thinking about the past,” I admitted quietly between heavy breaths as we continued to run.
I knew he wouldn’t push unless I wanted to offer up more. There had always been a mutual understanding and level of trust between us, and it meant that just because we understood the pain that the other was going through, we didn’t pry. There was comfort in knowing he understood and was simply at my side while I processed it.
As the trees began to thin, Kolvar came to a halt, holding a hand up for us to still.
As we pulled to a stop, my ears strained to pick up what he’d heard. After a short moment, I heard the squealing laughter of children.Thatwas one thing I couldn’t relate to in my memories—playing with other children.
In order to have enough land to farm we were fairly removed from the center of town. While some might have thought that was a lonely way to lead their life, I’d never lacked happiness or love while running through our fields and soaking in the sunshine alone before returning home to help my aunt with dinner. The few times we had gone to the market that came together once every few months in the village, I’d never felt welcomed by the other children there. I was the unknown recluse, and after one attempt at joining in on their game of knucklebones while my father set up our stall, I’d never tried again.
I’d never forget that sick feeling at the pit of my stomach when they’d visibly sneered at me and let their silence deafen the air in response to my attempt to join them.
It was a horrid feeling, being ostracized, but perhaps I could attribute the fire that had never been able to be squelched within me to that very moment. I remember running back to my father, tears streaming down my face, and him kneeling to look me in the eye. He wiped the tears from my eyes, and after I managed to choke out the explanation for why I was so upset, he asked me,“Do you feel like your life is less now because of what they did?”
Being so young, it had taken me a while to think of an answer. Eventually, I told him no, that it just hurt my feelings. He’d placed his hand over my heart and said,“It’s okay to feel sad or hurt by the actions of others, but you will always have the power to decide how you react to it. Those reactions can give them power and control over your life. If you choose to focus on the good in your life, then they didn’t win, did they?”
Warmth bled into my hands, bringing me back to the present, with Dakath and Elijah gently squeezing my hands. Sniffling lightly, I shot them both smiles to reassure them that I was okay…because I always would be. Even despite the horrible things I’d be through, my dad was right. They’d never win. That knowledge had gotten me through my darkest times and my only regret that he wasn’t here to see how much he’d help me.
A knot loosened at my chest at the thought. It had been bothering me deep down ever since Myrin told me that he likely wasn’t my biological dad, with it taking a vampyre father and human mother to create a dhampyr, but at this moment…I finally realized it didn’t matter who biologically held that title. My dad was still my dad and nothing would ever take that from me. He’d cherished me, loved me, and protected me like a father would.
The Evathrina charm felt like it burned against my skin where it lay tucked against my chest beneath my armor, reminding me of my mother. I wished my entire family was here to see the woman I’d become.
Centering my emotions and collecting myself, I let go of their hands and roughly brushed any lingering wetness from my eyes as Kolvar approached us and whispered, “From what I can see and hear, this is a village with no guards, but there is always a possibility that they could be hiding. How do you want to move forward?”
Their three sets of eyes turned to me, and I quickly answered, “We can’t all appear out of the brush at once, or we will scare them. Kolvar and I will venture into their village alone and try to reason with them. If there are any guards, this tactic will give us the element of surprise since they won’t know that we have forces waiting on the outskirts of the village.”
Nods of agreement came from all, and Kolvar and I trekked through the dense brush to a trodden dirt path and set down it toward the children’s voices. Nerves fluttered in my stomach, but I tried to ignore it and hope for the best.
“We’ve got this,” Kolvar whispered, eerily sensing my mood without any indication from me.
Inhaling deeply, I nodded and offered a soft smile to him as I breathed out. Walking around the bend in the road, we entered what appeared to be the center of a deserted marketplace where we found two young boys playing with dice.
Glancing around, I took in the stalls that seemed to have been left unattended with goods still overflowing their tables and carts. A few wooden houses stood in the near distance, and it was there that I spotted a group of adults gathering.
As we approached the boys, I let out a soft, “Hey there,” and came to a stop a few feet from them. They whipped around with wide eyes.
I expected them to be terrified of strangers touting armor and weapons, but as soon as their gazes fell on Kolvar, they lit up. Exuberant energy filled them as they jumped up and asked, “Can I touch your armor, sir? You’re like a big warrior that they’re talking about!”
Kolvar and I exchanged confused glances but leaned into their excitement to try to establish trust. As he kneeled down to them, his voice oozed a comforting warmth. “Of course, but be careful of the sharp side of the ax, okay?”
Excited gasps came from the boys, and they rushed to run their fingers over his armor. A genuine smile tugged his lips apart, white teeth on full display. It was like watching him come to life with these children around him.
“Hey, boys,” I said as I glanced up at the crowd in the distance. “Are you supposed to be out here alone, or should you be with everyone else over there?”
I’d venture to guess they were supposed to be with them, especially if there were talks of warriors going around. Someone’s parents were going to be very upset and afraid when they couldn’t find these two.
