He senses her surprise, unprepared for his response.
Her soft palms press against his cheeks. “You are leading us to destroy Makt, to kill Lavinia. I need you, Calder. We need you to avenge your son and all the lives he has ruined.”
His throat burns as he restrains his emotions.
“Open your eyes, please.”
Instead of the Keep, he is back in the forest.
The abrupt change of scenery takes his breath away. Yet, not as much as the young woman straddling his lap as he leans against a tree, stroking his beard with a faint grin.
“Welcome back, Iss Drengr.”
He quickly glances around, inhaling deep breaths of the chilly air until his gaze meets hers.
In relief and gratitude, his hands tangle through her spiral curls. “Thank you, Princess.” He envelops her in his arms. The side of his head rests against her soft, yielding breasts.
She clutches his head, kissing his forehead. “You are almost finished.”
“I am ready to leave these damn woods.”
She helps him stand, and they stride along the path to the next clearing, which reveals a large cage.
Inside are their children.
No, the ones manifested from the Forest of Fear.
“Papa! Papa!” Addie and Ludo’s cries strike straight at his heart.
“There they are!” Calder flies to the cage and attempts to pry open the door with no latch. “Aura, the children are in this cage!”
She glances in the opposite direction. “I cannot see your trial, but I can walk alongside you through this.”
“Don't worry, I'll get you out!” He yanks on the bars, but a chilling laugh halts his efforts. Lavina appears from behind a tree with her merciless, taunting grin.
“We must stop meeting like this! How do they look? I think the little girl may agree to Makt first.”
He barrels at her, but before he makes contact, she vanishes. Instead, he smacks against a tree and stumbles onto his back.
Quickly, he rolls over to see that Lavina and the children appear in another location deeper in the forest.
Aura reaches him as he pushes to his feet. “You must admit your fear. You cannot defeat the forest with your hands.”
“But, the children!” He looks at the crying twins and then back at Aura. A wretched tear betrays his deepest thoughts. “I fear losing a child again.”
The cage vanishes at his words, leaving Ludo and Addie alone in the clearing. They both run to him, throwing their arms around his legs.
He drops to his knees, brushing aside Addie’s curls so much like Aura’s.
“It’s going to be all right, Papa.” She kisses his cheek.
Ludo takes her hand. “You need to let us go. You have work to do.”
Calder shakes his head. “But I can protect you.”
“Mama needs you more right now.” Addie hugs him one last time before they fade to the wind.
Even with the children's mirage vanished, he knows one last fear is lingering in his heart.
