She sat outside watching the children make their snow angels while she sipped a cup of warm cider. Their laughter rang in her ears and brought a smile to her face.
Why couldn’t everyone be so happy over something so simple? That was the biggest tragedy of becoming an adult. That moment when life buried the joys of laughter gained from a simple run or from the sensation of warm sunlight on one’s cheeks.
The joy found in capturing a sunbeam in the palm of your hand.
No one should lose their appreciation so soon.
And Ariel had so enjoyed these last few weeks. Valteri always stood near, ready to assist her. She’d taught him to play chess, while he’d taught her much about human feelings and desires. But their time together only made her greedier for his presence.
Greedier for a lifetime spent by his side.
“Milady?”
She turned at the old gnarled voice to find Mildred approaching.
“I beg your forgiveness for disturbing you.…”
Ariel stared at her and though she ought to hate the woman, only pity filled her. “What do you need, Mildred?”
“I…” The crone glanced away. “I know I have no right to ask, but I seek your charity.”
Seriously? She had some nerve. “My charity?”
“Aye. I need you to forgive me for what I’ve done.”
Her jaw went slack. How could she even ask such a thing?
Had the withered creature fallen and hit her head?
Mildred sank to her knees in front of her. “Last night… my Peter came to me.”
Even more confused, she tried to make sense of what she was saying. “Your son?”
“Aye.” Tears filled her eyes. “Though he no longer looked the same, I knew it was him. He told me of his new role and how happy he was to be fighting against those out to harm us all. That I should rejoice for what he’d chosen to do. He bade me seek forgiveness so that I would no longer be damned for what I’ve done.”
Was this some trick of Belial’s?
Baffled, she tried to make sense of it.
Until she saw Thorn stepping out of the shadows behind the woman. The intensity of his green eyes told her who was behind Mildred’s strange turnabout.
Aye, he’d have the ability to arrange such a “meeting.”
That was what Shadow had meant yesterday when he’d told her that he had one more trick he wanted to try.
“’Twas my grief and pain that caused me to seek vengeance against you, milady. What I did was wrong. I see that now. I don’t want to be damned for it. Can you forgive me?”
Ariel’s chest tightened. True sorrow and regret mingled in the crone’s eyes. She meant what she said.
How could she deny this woman what she asked?
Indeed, forgiveness seemed a small request.
Ariel smiled sadly. “Aye, Mildred, I forgive you.”
And even as she said the words, she meant them. Unfortunately, she’d learned all too well these weeks past why Mildred had cursed her.
What it would mean to lose someone she loved.
