The memories filtered back to me. So much of that time I didn’t want to remember. The Siege of Vestrea had been… horrific.
Kel had been the one shining light in that abysmal Hellscape.
“We were lovers and… very passionate.” I blushed a bit admitting this, but Veora made me feel so comfortable that it passed quickly. She didn’t judge, just listened.
“The war was… horrible and our moments together were all that kept me sane some days. We were in the same mercenary company so there wasn’t much privacy. But we’d sneak away to dark corners and… ah… well, you know. I thought he loved me.”
“I sense a ‘but’?” she asked.
“Indeed.” I sighed. “When the war ended and the siege on Vestrea was lifted?—”
“Wait, Vestrea? You were at the siege of Vestrea? I hear that was horrible.”
“It was.” And that was all I’d say on that.
Yet listening to Veora’s soft humming soothed me and I found myself going on.
“We were all happy when the armistice was called and we could go home. But our company had to stay for a little longer to oversee some of the aid coming into the city.”
I drew in a long breath. This was the hard part. “One day Kel… he came to me and kissed me passionately with a strange smile on his face and… and said he’d be back, but nothing more about where he was going. Then… he vanished.”
I shuddered out a breath then forced a smile, telling myself I wouldn’t cry. I’d cried enough over that man and hated every tear.
“I thought he’d return later that day and when he didn’t, I asked his father, Drako, the leader of our crew, where Kel had gone. He said he didn’t know, only that Kel had asked for special permission to leave and hadn’t said when he’d be back.”
“I waited for him for days, but he never returned.” I shook my head at the heavy memories, swallowing around a lump in my throat.
“I was devastated. Even though the war was over, I was surrounded by so much desolation and death and horror that I’d needed some comfort. But he’d disappeared. He’dsaidhe loved me, then… he abandoned me when I’d needed him the most!”
My voice had risen, so I drew several long breaths to calm myself. My expression turned sour. I wasn’t proud of what I’d done next.
“I was so lost and uncertain. My sergeant found me crying my brains out. He held me close and whispered some kind words and… I’m ashamed to say… I’d needed to be withsomeoneso I… took some comfort from him that night.”
I grimaced.
“That turned out to be a mistake. He was not what you’d call a patient lover, nor particularly skilled, but he’d been a warm body next to me in the darkness and that had helped.”
I sighed heavily, shaking my head.
“As for Kel, he never returned as far as I know. Some of the crew said he’d come back at one point then left again, but I’d never seen him. That was it. He’d deserted me when I’d needed him most. Then, when our company finally returned to Pearlia, he was here. Apparently, he’d been here all along. I couldn’t face him, and he couldn’t face me. So, we left it at that.”
“That’s horrible, Tisi. I’m so sorry.” Veora reached across the table to take my hand. Her warmth and compassion helped to restore me to myself as I wiped a single tear from my eye with my free hand. I loathed remembering those hard days.
“It’s nothing really. I’m well over him now.” I smiled.
We chatted for a bit longer before I escorted Veora back to her house. Walking home again, I realized I felt far better than I had in a long time. I’d never thought telling anyone about Kel and the war would help, but it had.
I smiled and even hummed to myself as I returned home, very much looking forward to my training with Leo later today.
CHAPTER 13
Kelric
It was gruelingwork remaining conscious while listening to the monotone voice of General Hiset, the royal military advisor. This man had never seen real action, despite being a general. He knew tactics and strategy well enough, but he’d gained his position through politics and not through surviving one rough situation after another, like I had.
But I was on his turf, called to this royal advisory council, with Queen Helena listening intently at one end of the large table. What this man had to say was important and could affect me and my company. So, I tried not to fall asleep as he droned on.
“…which is the fourth incursion this month. They are not coming far into Pearlia, and they daren’t threaten any of our farmers. No, they do it just to see if they can, to see if we’ll respond.”
