fine. For now.”
She exhaled in relief, “Then what could be wrong?”
Again, she was so oblivious it physically hurt Terric. “There was an attack a few days ago at Brantonwall Castle; your uncle was targeted...”
“I thought you said he was fine,” confusion marred her pretty face.
“Please, let me finish. Your uncle and I were alone in the council room, at least we thought we were alone. Somebody was hiding in the tower, ready to pounce. While I was fighting off the attacker, your parents came to see what the commotion was about, having barely left the council room themselves. As I was holding off the attacker, another man suddenly appeared and...” Terric had to stop speaking as the grisly images assaulted his memory. How could he share that nightmare with Rosalind?
Rosalind was before him, her voice shaking as she spoke, “What happened? Tell me.”
Terric looked down into her violet eyes and mustered enough strength to continue. “I couldn't stop the man in time; I couldn't save them.”
Rosalind's face paled. “Tell me what happened,” she demanded.
“I just did.” Clearly she didn't register what he had just told her, she needed clarification, but he was loathe to give it.
“Tell me,” she urged.
“I had the first attacker backed into the wall, my sword at his throat. I knew if I let him go to defend your parents, he'd kill King Cedric. Your father was killed first. I immediately killed the man I held captive and rushed to your mother. But I,” he paused to swallow. “I was too late. I slayed their murderer, but it was too late.”
Terric watched as Rosalind searched his face, shaky hands going up to cover her mouth as a stifled sob escaped. “Nay!” she cried, shaking her head violently.
Terric reached for her, clasping her shoulders in his hands before pulling her forcefully into his chest. Both arms went around her as her sorrow bubbled forth, manifesting itself in large tears that cascaded down her face. She pulled her hands into small fists and angrily pounded against his chest as she cried, but Terric's grip tightened, holding her firmly to him. Her punches didn't physically hurt him at all, but he felt the anger and pain behind each blow, and it hurt him emotionally. It multiplied the guilt he already felt at the situation.
As she sobbed and flailed in his arms, Terric replayed that fateful day over in his mind. He knew at the time that there was nothing he could have done differently that would have made it so that he had been able to save her parents’ lives. If there had been, he was sure he would have done it. But as he listened to her strangled cries, he started to doubt himself. He started to wonder if maybe there was more that he could have done. Could he have prevented the heartache the girl was feeling? He didn't think so then, but now he wasn't sure.
Rosalind's fists fell to her sides, as her sobs began to quiet, though the tears continued streaming steadily from her eyes. “Why didn't you tell me? Why did you say you were taking me to see them in Peltis, that they had requested my presence?”
“I couldn't, I had sworn an oath to King Cedric. He wanted to be the one to tell you.”
“What about Colin, is he dead too?”
“No, but Aeden just informed me that there has been an attempt to end his life since I left to fetch you. Your brother has fled with King Cedric and his family to Peltis, seeking protection. I was to see you safely there, but it's not wise to take you there anymore.”
“So now what? Am I to stay in the forest with you indefinitely?”
“Nay, you have to go into hiding. You are now Queen of the southwestern territory and must be kept safe. King Cedric believes that the enemy might try to target you now in an attempt to overthrow your territory.”
Tears still leaked out of the corners of her eyes, rolling down her cheeks and falling into the bodice of her dress. Her voice was shaky with emotion as she spoke, “Where will you take me?
She exhaled in relief, “Then what could be wrong?”
Again, she was so oblivious it physically hurt Terric. “There was an attack a few days ago at Brantonwall Castle; your uncle was targeted...”
“I thought you said he was fine,” confusion marred her pretty face.
“Please, let me finish. Your uncle and I were alone in the council room, at least we thought we were alone. Somebody was hiding in the tower, ready to pounce. While I was fighting off the attacker, your parents came to see what the commotion was about, having barely left the council room themselves. As I was holding off the attacker, another man suddenly appeared and...” Terric had to stop speaking as the grisly images assaulted his memory. How could he share that nightmare with Rosalind?
Rosalind was before him, her voice shaking as she spoke, “What happened? Tell me.”
Terric looked down into her violet eyes and mustered enough strength to continue. “I couldn't stop the man in time; I couldn't save them.”
Rosalind's face paled. “Tell me what happened,” she demanded.
“I just did.” Clearly she didn't register what he had just told her, she needed clarification, but he was loathe to give it.
“Tell me,” she urged.
“I had the first attacker backed into the wall, my sword at his throat. I knew if I let him go to defend your parents, he'd kill King Cedric. Your father was killed first. I immediately killed the man I held captive and rushed to your mother. But I,” he paused to swallow. “I was too late. I slayed their murderer, but it was too late.”
Terric watched as Rosalind searched his face, shaky hands going up to cover her mouth as a stifled sob escaped. “Nay!” she cried, shaking her head violently.
Terric reached for her, clasping her shoulders in his hands before pulling her forcefully into his chest. Both arms went around her as her sorrow bubbled forth, manifesting itself in large tears that cascaded down her face. She pulled her hands into small fists and angrily pounded against his chest as she cried, but Terric's grip tightened, holding her firmly to him. Her punches didn't physically hurt him at all, but he felt the anger and pain behind each blow, and it hurt him emotionally. It multiplied the guilt he already felt at the situation.
As she sobbed and flailed in his arms, Terric replayed that fateful day over in his mind. He knew at the time that there was nothing he could have done differently that would have made it so that he had been able to save her parents’ lives. If there had been, he was sure he would have done it. But as he listened to her strangled cries, he started to doubt himself. He started to wonder if maybe there was more that he could have done. Could he have prevented the heartache the girl was feeling? He didn't think so then, but now he wasn't sure.
Rosalind's fists fell to her sides, as her sobs began to quiet, though the tears continued streaming steadily from her eyes. “Why didn't you tell me? Why did you say you were taking me to see them in Peltis, that they had requested my presence?”
“I couldn't, I had sworn an oath to King Cedric. He wanted to be the one to tell you.”
“What about Colin, is he dead too?”
“No, but Aeden just informed me that there has been an attempt to end his life since I left to fetch you. Your brother has fled with King Cedric and his family to Peltis, seeking protection. I was to see you safely there, but it's not wise to take you there anymore.”
“So now what? Am I to stay in the forest with you indefinitely?”
“Nay, you have to go into hiding. You are now Queen of the southwestern territory and must be kept safe. King Cedric believes that the enemy might try to target you now in an attempt to overthrow your territory.”
Tears still leaked out of the corners of her eyes, rolling down her cheeks and falling into the bodice of her dress. Her voice was shaky with emotion as she spoke, “Where will you take me?
Similar Books
