Page 116 of Cursed Shadows 5

“Please.”

“Why?”

“No.”

“Bring him back.”

“Take me.”

Mother doesn’t answer.

Her sudden silence…

I offered Mother a terrible sacrifice.

So she demanded a better one.

I was motivated by protecting the light.

So she better motivated me.

I hesitated in her final demand, she had to tell me thrice to act—

And that cost Eamon his life.

I killed Eamon…

THE RUINS

††††††

When we are younglings, the world is full of wonder. We pluck flowers from the earth and chain them together to drape around our necks; we climb the rugged trees near our home to look out at the world; laughter reaches our bellies, tears touch our souls.

I yearned to mature.

I yearned for the freedom of life.

But it is all a lie, these wonders, freedoms, joys, hopes and dreams.

Life is pain; it is misery.

Everything is at a cost.

24

DAXEEL

††††††

The fatigue of the black powder has returned. An unwelcome visitor at a time like this. It weighs his lashes down over his reddened eyes and tugs the corner of his mouth into a frown.

Behind him, his leather satchel is packed and clasped, perched on the foot of his bed.

He stands at the mirror too long.

It is time to leave, to take his steed and ride to Dorcha where he will meet with his unit. He is already a phase behind.

Agnar will be displeased.

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