He exhaled a short laugh. “True.”
“Are you planning to stay with Serene, even after her marriage to the serjah?”
“Yes, at least for now.” Venn eyed her. “What about you?”
“There’s nothing for me in Iden, now,” she said softly. “For as long as Serene and Clare need me, I want to be there for them—wherever they are.”
Venn opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a soft cry came from the bed.
They both looked over to see Sarah sit up, and the moonlight caught the tears that rolled down her cheeks. “Mama?” the little girl croaked, her little body shuddering. “Mama?”
Venn pushed to his feet, moving at once to sit on the edge of the bed. He gathered Sarah into his arms and held her tight to his chest as he murmured, “You’re all right, little one. You’re safe.”
Sarah’s thin arms wrapped tightly around Venn’s waist. “I want my mama,” she cried.
“I know.” He pressed a kiss to her head. “I’m sorry, little one. She’s not here. But you’re not alone.”
Every part of Vera warmed as she watched Venn comfort the little girl. He held her with infinite gentleness, and he did not shy away from her tears or sniffles that wet his shirt, or her clinging embrace. He seemed perfectly at ease as he comforted her, rubbing a hand over her back.
When her tears eased a bit, Venn asked softly, “Shall I tell you another story?”
The girl sniffed. “About the princess and the wolf?”
“Of course.” Venn tipped his head back. “Hmm, let’s see . . . You remember that the wolf had turned back into a man, right? That he found the princess?”
“And he won the tournament,” Sarah added quietly.
“Yes, he did. Which of course meant that he’d won the princess’s hand in marriage.”
“They got married?”
“Yes,” Venn whispered. “That’s what happens when you love someone.”
There was movement on the bed, and Vera realized that Finn was awake. He was turning under the quilt, shifting closer to better hear Venn’s story.
Venn didn’t seem to notice, with his attention firmly on the little girl in his arms. “The king and queen wanted a perfect wedding for their daughter, but the princess and her silver-haired protector didn’t care for anything elaborate. They only wanted each other. And so, the day after the tournament, they were married in the castle. And after they were married, the princess and her new prince decided they should go on an adventure. So they traveled the kingdom, having so many wonderful adventures, like the time they found a ruined castle on a lonely mountain peak . . .”
Venn’s smooth whisper continued to paint a story until Sarah fell asleep—a story about a princess and her wolfish prince who went on adventures together, and nothing bad ever happened.
Chapter 12
Venn
They visited the physician the next morning, and the middle-aged man looked over Rebecca carefully. He noted signs of malnutrition, but assured them she was recovering well. While there, Venn had him also check Finn and Sarah.
“Both could use a little more food and a little more rest, I think,” the Mortisian healer finally declared, shooting both children a smile before he focused on Venn and Vera. “I presume your destination is the camp they call Salvation.”
“What do you know of it?” Venn asked, neither confirming nor denying his assumption.
The man shrugged. “The refugees talk of it. And I’m afraid I see a few of those, as they are often hurt during their travels.” He frowned, angling away from the children as he lowered his voice. “I would caution you to be wary of all strangers—including ones from your own kingdom. I’ve had several clients tell me that their injuries came from a fellow Devendran. Tense times make for dangerous ones, I suppose.” He sighed. “The true tragedy is that it’s the innocent who suffer most—the children.”
That, unfortunately, was true.
Venn paid the physician, and thanked him for a recommendation of where they could find more milk for the baby—dried or otherwise.
As they went about their errands, purchasing various supplies for their travels, Venn couldn’t help but notice the growing crowds. The purple flags for the Mortisian holiday were everywhere, and as they went about their shopping, he spied more and more carts arriving with wares to sell. It looked like quite the celebration already, and as they shopped for various supplies Venn overheard that the true party hadn’t even begun yet.
They stopped at a small clothing shop to purchase new things for the children. Vera had expressed concern last night about their coin running out, but Serene had made sure he and Wilf carried enough when they first set out after Clare and Vera; they had more than enough for their needs, and anything the children required.
