Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 78: The Weight of Her Soul

"Lady Erinne?" Erinne looked up from her daughter's face at the sound of the voice. She'd been sitting here for hours, just holding her, watching her, tears in her eyes as she desperately wished to see Cold Hammer holding this precious, small bundle in his arms. She wanted to see him smile down at her with warmth in his eyes, the kind of fatherly warmth she'd only seen on his face in tender moments with Andol. She wanted her mate and her son to share in this moment with her, watching the newest member of their family sleep.

She didn't know that the world was fraught with danger and hardship, she didn't know that her father and brother might be dead. All she knew was this sweet, gentle sleep, in Erinne's arms.

One of Wren's guards was standing in the doorway, peering in at her. Despite her promise to continue only one hour more, Erinne had searched with Wren until nightfall. He'd damn near forced her to return to the castle, but he'd stayed. He'd stayed out all night and when dawn came, he wasn't back yet, so Khash left to find him.

The guard coming in had to have a reason.

"Is there news?" She asked, sitting up straighter in the chair she was occupying.

His face tightened and concern flitted through her, his voice strained as he spoke, "King Wren asks that you come downstairs."

His mannerisms were making her nervous and she felt her throat closing a little, her chest constricting. "What's wrong?" She asked but he didn't speak, keeping his eyes cast towards the floor. She didn't think Wren would bring her out of the privacy of her room just to tell her he'd found her husband and son dead, however, so she mustered up the courage to nod. "Okay, I'm coming."

"Milady," he dipped his head respectfully and moved to stand farther outside the room but he waited.

She felt like her heart was shaking inside her chest with the fear that coursed through her and she waved to the young servant Wren had sent to stay with her, the only one that had cared enough to play with her son. Myre was young, but her experience was good and she passed her daughter into her waiting arms gently. She was ever thankful for the young woman's kindness.

"Please, do not take her from this room." She was terrified that someone would hurt her for being half blooded now. The shouts of the mob yelling abomination still rang through her mind each time she closed her eyes, even if it was only a blink.

"I've got her, milady." Myre took the baby and patted Erinne's arm. "I pray for you, milady, I hope you know that."

"Thank you." Erinne returned the gesture and walked to the door until the sudden fear that her family was dead stopped her in her tracks, making it feel as though the floor rolled beneath her feet. She couldn't just stand here, frozen, and waiting. She needed to know. Whatever news Wren had for her, she had to know.

She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and then strode forward and out the door. "Lead the way." She tipped her head to the guard and he didn't hesitate, moving with haste and she knew something was wrong. She felt it in her soul. His movements were too rigid, his eyes darting back at her with too much concern.

She didn't say anything and she tried not to think about what waited for her downstairs, but each step drove into her mind the hard point that her family might not be coming back. As she neared the end of the long staircase that led into the main hall, she found Wren with several of his guards, gathered in a loose circle. Wren had one arm crossed over his chest, and the other propped his chin up.

He didn't move, he didn't look her way, and that concerned her all the more. With his senses, she knew he was aware of her arrival. As she made her last step, her heart quickened it's pace. The guards were turning to look at her, their body language as tight and stiff as the man that had retrieved her from her room.