Page 133 of A Blightress of Wrath
Itsmelled likeFelgren.
Itfelt likeFelgren—the tallest trees that reached the base of the sky, the ferns and bushes—even small paths were woven through the underbrush as if the forest floor had been trailed countless times by countless feet.
WhenI’dheard what had grown on the other side of the castle wall,I’dknown exactly who it had come from.Myduty to take over some ofLanna’stasks while she rested forced me to stay away, thoughItempted myself a dozen times to forgo those responsibilities and see it for myself.
Asthe sun began its dip to the horizon,Ihad finally been able to excuse myself and the otherRunnersto race across the city ruins to see the forest which had grown from nothing.
Whenrumors were confirmed it wasSaelyn, daughter of theBaronofFelgren, who had grown such a thing, even more whispers arose about theDimmingand how successful we’d be in our final push into the east.
Trekkingdeeper into the wood,Iallowed myself to imagine this wasFelgrenandIwas off to meetSaeat the little shelter we’d built beneath the grove of maple trees.Ipictured one of the many summers we’d met there, sharing plans for the next day, laughing at somethingPompeiihad said or a new guessing gameI’dlearned, telling her nothing about my life shadowed by battles and war.
AllI’dever wanted, beforeIunderstood thatIloved her, was to live my days inFelgren.Butnow,Icould not distinguish if that was becauseFelgrenwas home or she was.
“Lookingfor me?”
Hervoice called somewhere to my right.Iscanned the trees, finding her sitting beneath one, sketching shapes in the dirt with a narrow pointy stick.
Ileft the path, careful through the bushes and ferns, doing whatIcould to keep the new life undisturbed.Isat down across from her, bending my legs so they encompassed hers.Gesturingabove us,Iasked, “Thisyour work?”
Herlaugh flew free and she tossed her stick, scooting closer, shifting her legs underneath mine.Shegrabbed the front of my shirt, pressing her cheek to my chest, andIfolded my arms around her.
“What’severyone saying?”
“Nothingmuch, just that we’re all saved now that we have you with us.”
Herhead rose to see my face. “Ijust wanted to show my mother whatIcould do.Ididn’t actually know it would be this until…untilIdid it.”
Imade a point to look around, nodding and admiring the thick trees and curling ivy. “Icould live here.”
Shesnorted, snuggling back into my shirt, saying, “Youcould not.”
“No, really,”Iinsisted. “Ifyou made it,I’llcherish it.Ifyou want to spend your days growing your own damn forest,I’llbuild us a home in it.Rightthere,”—Igently turned her chin, pointing across the line of trees to a tiny clearing—“can’t you see it?Alittle cottage, just big enough for the two of us so we don’t have to host any guests.”
Shelaughed again, wrapping her arms around my neck asIcontinued. “Youand me,Sae.We’llspend our days working the land, building a garden and a life.You’lltravel into the city on occasion to do your magical miracles, andI’llfix up our home, dinner on the table when you return.”
“Hmm, and what of the people who’d try to settle nearby?”
“I’llchase ‘em off with a broom.”
Hercackle of laughter shook her chest and with it,Icouldn’t help myself, finding her lips with my own, stealing her kisses to save for the worst times yet to come.
“Youwouldn’t miss it?” she asked, trailing kisses over my cheek. “Thelife of aRunner,I’vediscovered, is quite a thrilling one.”
“No,”Iswept my hand across her hair, tilting her face. “No,Iwouldn’t miss any of it.Ido what is asked of me because it is whatIcan do.It’sthis life,”—Inodded to the clearing whereI’dpainted a future for us—“thatI’dmiss if it never comes to be.Andit doesn’t have to be here.Iwould build a future with you wherever you want to take us.Iam forever at your call.Whereyou go,Igo.”
Tearsglistened in her eyes and she nodded. “Iwant this future, too.Nomatter what we have left to face,Iwill get us to that life.”
Ipressed my forehead to hers. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
Chapter57
Saelyn
Afew more days passed inthe same rhythm.Runnerstrained with their swords andWieldwrynstrained with their magic.Ifit somewhere in between, often finding myself taking my breaks inThevin’stent where we kissed, and touched, and held each other until duty forced us to leave, our lips puffy and red, an obvious tale to tell for anyone who cared to look.
Mymother noticed, but never said a word.AndFiguerah, whomIwas starting to really like, lifted my left wrist just once, checking for the curvedlinked there afterI’dbeen gone a particularly long time, only to come back more disheveled than usual.
