Farrin wiped his smile from his face. “Why?”
“Our little rag-tag group is growing. We’ll have to divide up soon. Don’t give me that look, Runt; we’ll all be united, still. But tactically speaking, we’ll be able to strike faster and more often if we split our forces. One day, you’ll lead a group in my name.”
Farrin stared at his horse’s ears, though his heart threatened to burst with pride. Tenebris wanted him, a bloodied gladiator, to lead one day! “Thank you, sir.”
Tenebris shrugged. “You’ve done well. And I can see it in your eyes—you’ve the makings of a leader. Just see to it you’re therightkind of leader.”
“Of course.” Farrin bowed his head. “I will do my best.”
“Don’t worry needlessly about it, Runt. It’ll be a bit before I gather a force for you—there’s a specific group I’d like you to lead, and frankly we don’t have enough magic users who fall into that category right now. But in the meantime, I’ve got something for you.” Tenebris removed a small suede pouch from a saddle bag and held it out.
Farrin swallowed thickly and took the gift. He undid the strings tying it shut and pulled out a tiny wolf sculpture made of jade.
“I’m not much of one for fancy things,” Tenebris said. “But I saw this, and I thought of you. It seemed fitting, for you are quite the lone wolf.”
Tenebris was a practical man. He was more concerned about freeing other magic users and fighting against those who sought to harm them than gold and jewels. That he bothered to find such a costly item and gave it tohim… Farrin raised his gaze of adoration to Tenebris. “Thank you.”
Tenebris winked. “You’ve earned it. But whenever you look at it, remember me and remember my words. You could be one of my greatest soldiers, Farrin, as long as you follow me with every breath you take.”
“It will be my honor, sir.” Farrin forced himself to put the small sculpture and pouch in his saddlebag, though he wanted to hold it and admire it. He straightened with pride as he rode next to his leader.
He didn’t think he would ever be happier than he was at that moment, and he knew he would never leave Tenebris and abandon his great goal to help magic users and punish those who had wronged them.
Tenebris had reached out to help Farrin when he was little more than an animal. There was no one else in thecontinentwho would do that if they knew the kinds of things he had done. Farrin was so blessed to meet such a man.
What Farrin did not know wasthat therewassuch an individual who would look past his sins and love him anyway. And as Farrin felt like he would burst with pride, she was huddled in the corner of her ice castle, her hands clasped against her mouth as she fought tears.
Though she had been exiled for years, sometimes the loneliness was too much for Rakel to bear, as it was tonight. It pressed down on her like a living thing, and the silence of her castle was unbearable. But she knew if she cried that would only make it worse. To hear her own sobs echo in her castle and to know no one heard her or even cared would amplify her pain.
Her shoulders shook, not from the cold, but from the sheer sorrow that wracked her.
She was caged like an animal, left alone to rot in her icy prison. When she had been a child and was locked in her tower near the palace, at least she couldhearpeople even if they never approached her.
But here, on Ensom Peak, there was no one but herself.
They haven’t killed me, Rakel reminded herself.And I still have my magic.
She reached for her magic, and it wrapped her in its cold embrace. Though she still shook, she lowered her hands from her mouth and heaved a little sigh.
Alone. I am so alone.
The thought was like a dagger to her gut.
Barely able to see through the haze of her tears, Rakel ran through her ice castle. Her footsteps were a lonely sound in the oppressive silence. She tried to block it out as she fled to her one haven—her library.
She skid into the room, and the pain of her heart lessened. The sight of the books stacked on their icy shelves gave her a tiny flicker of hope.Someonecared about her.Someoneloved her, however distantly.
Though in her darkest hours she wanted to bust free of her prison and scream, she would not. Shewould notbe the horror everyone seemed to think she was.
Rakel felt her magic twine around her ankles. She rubbed her face then plucked a book about animals from a bookshelf and started for the outdoors, intending to practice her ice-carving skills.
The Beginning…
CHAPTER 11
FORGIVEN
This story has been long in coming, but I wanted to use it to show how great an impact forgiveness has, and how the course of a country can be changed by an act of mercy.
