A dozen or so limped, legs missing or still tender with wounds. Krynn’s left arm was gone.
This was the inevitable aftermath of war.
Despair and, at most, relief to have survived.
Yet a sense of pride drummed through all.
These men and women had protected and sacrificed for this land. So the civilians wouldn’t have to witness what they had.
Ryker led them all, face as controlled as ever, standing tall and proud against the rain that ricocheted off his armor and soaked his furs.
The civilians touched their foreheads as he passed, thanking him with prayers and throwing fir twigs in the air.
I twisted my own fingers at my sides, trying to play at stoic.
The truth was that my chest was vibrating with relief.
He was back.
He was alive.
His energy still felt drained after he’d broken the Crimson Dam, but was quickly replenishing with each breath.
Their victorious return also meant more protection for the crater. This crater which had decided to reward their sacrifices with the gloomiest day I’d yet to witness here.
I scowled at the sky toying with us mortals, uncaring of the losses which had brought us here.
When my gaze finally fell, it met Ryker’s.
And my heart–this fragile heart of mine that was so scarred and scared–leaped.
His return didn’t leave any room for us to hide from the mess that wasus. Fated mates, arranged marriage, and all the other strings aside couldn’t fix what had been broken.
A tear we had avoided for far too long.
“I get it,” Dax whispered from my right side. The left had been taken by an emotional Mrs. Thornbrew, who kept on twisting her handkerchief. Nadya waited in the sliver of the open fortress doors, away from the prying eyes. She’d said nothing as she’d walked down the stairs and had kept uncharacteristically silent since then.
But she had come.
“What, exactly?” I whispered back, my gaze trapped by Ryker.
“What you see in him,” Dax said.
Thank the gods for the cold icing my cheeks and keeping them from reddening. “I see someone who’s just returned from war.”
“Triumphant.” He hummed. “He returned from wartriumphant, with very few losses. That is impressive. Don’t tell him I said that.”
“Your secret’s safe with me,” I muttered, though I was sick and tired of secrets, even small ones.
I rolled my shoulders back as Ryker reached the bottom of the stairs, looking up at me. A part of me wanted to jump into his arms. Another was afraid of what that might mean.
So I simply mirrored his smile.
I was happy he was alive and here.
He raced up the stairs, heading straight for me, but Mrs. Thornbrew intercepted him with a warm, long hug.
“Thank the Gods, Ry,” she said. “I had so many nightmares I wouldn’t see you again.”
