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“Mummy?” A slight shake on Rayla’s arm peeking out from beneath her woolen blankets roused her from a dreamless slumber. “Mummy…”
“Mmm…” She peeled her face from her drool-dampened pillow and cracked her eyes open halfway to see a little round face with chocolate brown hair that reached her shoulders and violet eyes peering directly into hers, her tiny pointed ears drooped between her long bangs. “Ari? You shouldn’t stare at people when they’re sleepin’.”
“I’m sorry. But…”
“What’s wrong, wee one?” Rayla had pushed herself up onto her elbow when she saw her daughter’s lips start to tremble, and then fully sat upright when tears sprang to her eyes.
“Nothing,” Ari sniffled, trying to hide her face in her pajama sleeve. “I… I can be brave. Just like you and Da. I— I won’t cry.”
“Ari…” Rayla stole a glance beside her, having half a mind to shake her husband awake, but he’d had such a busy week it would be almost cruel to do so. “Ari, it’s okay if you need to cry.” She opened her arms as if to emphasize her point, and the little girl leapt up into her lap and bunched her fists into the front of her mother’s nightdress.
“I— I saw monsters,” Ari sobbed, her voice hitching as her tears soaked right through the fabric. “They were big and— and some were chasing me.”
“It was a nightmare, moonbeam,” Rayla soothed, rocking her gently and kissing the top of her head. “It wasn’t real and it can’t hurt you.”
“Rayla…?” Callum finally stirred beside them, blinking blearily as he rolled over to face her. “Who’re you talking to?”
“Your eldest has graced us with her presence tonight,” his wife smiled over at him, cradling her in the crook of her elbow as Ari peeked over at her father with huge sad eyes. “Bad dream.”
“Oh Ari,” Callum said sadly, sitting up to slide closer to her. “It’s okay, we’re right here.” He cupped her face in his hand and dashed her tears away, but more of them fell as Ari squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.
“It was still scary when I woke up.”
“What do you mean?” Rayla asked, pulling back from the embrace and brushing wisps of brown hair out of her eyes.
“I wasn’t in the dream anymore. My eyes were open and I was in me and Sylri’s room.” Ari shuddered, “But I could still see bad people.” Both parents drew a slow breath at the same time, their heads turning slightly to look at each other. They weren’t surprised that this had begun to occur, but the fact that the visions were not only uncontrolled but also frightening was what concerned them.
Arielle Sarai, their eldest daughter, had been born connected to the moon arcanum. And while they had suspected as much for awhile now, it appeared to be all but confirmed that she possessed an affinity for primal magic like her father. But moon magic dealt in illusions of the mind— which wasn’t something the average four-year-old could wrap their head around in their darkest dreams, let alone control.
“Do you see anything scary now?” Callum asked her gently. Ari shook her head slowly, but she still crawled out of Rayla’s lap and into her father’s embrace, her soft whimpering cries tearing at his heart.
“They— they wanted to hurt me. And when I said no, they looked at Sylri in her crib. So I told them to stop and then— then they were gone.”
“Callum…” Rayla’s voice quivered under her breath, staring unnervingly between him and their daughter, but he merely held Ari tighter and kissed her forehead.
“Shhhhh, it’s okay.” Then, in the clouded midst of his worry and sleepy haze, he got an idea. “Why don’t we play a game, Ari?”
“A game?” Rayla raised her eyebrows, Callum mouthing “Trust me” in her direction.
“I want you to point out five things in this room that make you happy, and then your mom and I will tell you if we can see them too. Bonus points—” He rubbed his nose against Ari’s which made her giggle, “if you can get up and touch it. Okay?”
“Okay, Da,” Ari nodded, the first hint of a smile lifting the corners of her mouth. There was so much of Rayla in the way she tried to be strong through her pain, and Callum didn’t know whether it made him swell with pride or broke his heart. Sliding off the bed, his little girl bounded over to the balcony window and pointed outside. “The moon! The moon makes me happy!”
“Well I think we can safely say we see that,” Rayla chuckled, “Do you know why it makes you so happy?”
“‘Cause me and the moon are connected, just like you.”
“That’s right, you smart girl. So that’s one, you’ve got four more to go.” The waxing crescent moon seemed to gleam just a bit brighter as Ari’s small feet padded across the carpet to Callum’s desk.
“Da’s pictures,” she said, pulling his sketchbook off of the table with a grunt and bounding over with it. “I touched it, so I get more points.”
“You sure do,” Callum smiled. He flipped through the aging parchment until he found a particularly precious sketch of Rayla holding a newborn baby Ari, turning it around so his daughter could see. “I drew this the night you were born. You and your mother were both so sick, and I was so scared. So I tried to imagine the two of you happy and healthy to make myself feel better.”
“You were scared?” Ari asked, pressing both of her little hands against her father’s. “But you’re a prince. And you do magic. You’re so brave, Da.”
“I still get scared, Ari.”
“Me too,” Rayla whispered, “Bein’ brave is all about facin’ things you’re scared of. Your Da and I would do anythin’ to protect the people we love. But we’re also terrified of anythin’ happenin’ to them.” She looked away quickly, staring down at the mattress and deliberately avoiding her husband’s eyes.
“Three more,” Callum prodded Ari, and she suddenly beamed brightly.
“Soren!”
“Uh, Soren’s not in this room, Ari,” Rayla said.
“Yeah he is— he’s out there in the hall.” She pointed with her little finger at the chamber door, and Rayla knew she meant the crownguard was likely on his rounds patrolling the tower corridors. After a moment of mulling it over, she exhaled.
“Okay, I guess that counts.”
Callum laughed, “I think Soren keeps all of us happy, whether he means to or not.”
“His jokes are funny,” Ari giggled behind her hands clamped over her mouth.
“They are?” Rayla snorted, she and Callum exchanging a look and a silent chortle. Well, the head crownguard would be glad to know that he had at least one fan of his comedy in the castle.
“And he keeps us all safe, right Mummy?”
“I can’t argue with that one,” Rayla admitted, pulling Ari back into her lap. “Soren is good at his job, and he’s incredibly loyal.”
“Two more?” Ari guessed, her little hands reaching for Callum’s sketchbook. He passed it to her, and page by page she turned them backwards until she found the drawing of the person she was looking for. “Uncle Ezran!” She paused, furrowing her brow. “Does that count as extra points?”
“I’m gonna say yes,” Callum grinned, ruffling her hair. “Why does Uncle Ezran make you happy?”
“‘Cause he’s the king!”
“That can’t be the only reason,” her father shook his head. “There are other kings out there, and some of them aren’t anything like him.”
“Oh…” Ari bit her lip, and Callum gave her a little squeeze to silently let her know she hadn’t said anything wrong. “It’s ‘cause… Uncle Ezran is nice. And he helps people. He’s really busy, but he always tries to spend time with me and Sylri. He plays hide and seek with us even when he’s tired— and he loses ‘cause of Bait!”
“Never have Bait as a teammate in hide and seek,” Rayla smirked. “You will definitely lose.”
“Okay Ari, you’re down to your last one. If you can find something in this room you can touch, you win the grand prize of… sleeping in Mom and Dad’s bed tonight!”
“Callum,” Rayla mouthed, giving him a Look, but he mouthed “Just for tonight” right back at her. Ari put an index finger in her mouth and nibbled on her nail as she took one last glance around the room. Then her gaze froze on Rayla’s vanity mirror, and for a moment her parents worried that she had seen another illusion through the reflection. Until she got up and padded over to the ivory table, her little hands grabbing at a beautifully crafted circlet adorned with emeralds and amethysts, too big for a ring and too small for a bracelet. But just large enough to fit over an elven horn.
“My weddin’ cuff?” Rayla asked, perplexed as her baby dropped it into her palm. “How come?”
“I can’t pick both you and Da, ‘cause that’s cheating,” Ari replied timidly, rocking on her feet with her hands behind her back. “But you told me when you married Da, it was like you two became one.”
“You are so smart, Ari,” Callum shook his head with the proudest smile on his face, catching Rayla dashing away a tear out of the corner of his eye.
“How come we make you happy, moonbeam?” she asked, her lower lip quivering slightly.
Ari’s lips spread into her biggest smile yet, lighting up her wide violet eyes in the moonlight. “‘Cause you’re my Mummy,” she said simply, hugging Rayla around the middle. “You’re strong and brave and you protect everybody, like the dragons. And you fight the bad people with your knives and don’t even cut yourself.”
“Oh I’ve cut myself loads of times,” Rayla managed a laugh despite where her distracted mind was drifting off to.
“And Da,” Ari crawled over to hug Callum next. “Da’s really smart and can make spells from his hands. Some of them are fun. Some of them are dangerous.”
“You’ll be able to do that someday too,” Callum assured her, kissing the top of her head. “When you’re a little older, we’ll start moon mage training.” Ari clapped her hands excitedly, leaning her head against his chest.
“You and Mummy are my favorites. You’re both so funny, you hug me when I’m sad, and I’m safe inside your hugs.”
“Oh my bairn…” Rayla slid her arms around Ari and Callum and held them tight, hoping the embrace would contain her own emotions. Yet still, they threatened to spill from her eyes. Hearing this now, right now, when her husband was hours away from threatening the future of the content life they had built together— she couldn’t stand it.
“Rayla?”
“I’m goin’ to check on Sylri.” And before anyone could say another word to her, Rayla had disappeared out into the corridor, letting the door snap shut behind her. Ari’s little mouth twisted into a frown, her brow furrowing as she stared at the door her mother had just left through, then back up at Callum.
“Did I say something bad?” she asked quietly.
“No sweetheart, you didn’t do anything,” her father said, cradling her close. “I… I think Mummy’s a little mad at me.”
“‘Cause you’re leaving?” The question caught him off guard, and he pulled back from her slightly.
“How’d you know about that?”
“Uncle Ezran told me and Sylri. He said you and him and Soren and Corvus are going on a long trip. And Mummy’s staying here with us.”
Callum let out a long exhale, thankful that his brother hadn’t given his very young daughters the full details. “Yeah, I’m gonna be gone for a little while. But I’ll be back as soon as I can, I promise.”
“Can you bring me back a present?” Ari asked, her eyes brightening.
Callum chuckled, “It’s not that kind of trip, Ari. It’s something very important for Katolis— and Xadia, too.” He helped her settle back against the pillows and tucked her in the space between where he and Rayla slept. “So while I’m gone, can you do something very important for me?”
“Uh-huh,” his daughter nodded, keeping her gaze alert despite her heavy eyelids.
“Can you take care of your baby sister? And your mother? When they’re sad and they miss me, can you give them a big hug and tell them it’s okay?”
“Okay. But…” She trailed off, the corners of her eyes beading with tears, “What about if I miss you?”
“Then Mummy will be there for you. I know she will.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead, “Now, did the game help? Any more scary ghosts?”
Ari shook her head, wiping her nose on her nightgown sleeve as she took her father’s face between her little hands and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Da.”
“I love you too, Ari. So much.” He had heard the door open and shut again, but the shadow that moved across the floor had gone in the direction of the balcony. He involuntarily let out a sigh, “Well, time to get some sleep.”
Thankfully his child didn’t ask any more questions and let her sleepy eyes close, hopefully drifting off into a peaceful slumber. Making as little movement as possible, Callum got up from the mattress and went out onto the balcony, where he found his wife leaning against the railing with her eyes fixed onto the star-speckled sky above, her chemise fluttering behind her. She didn’t even turn around when she heard him approach from behind.
“How’s Sylri?”
“Fast asleep,” she responded shortly. “Thank the moon. If she were up, I’d probably have had to chase her all over the room before gettin’ her back into her crib.”
Callum chuckled, hoping she would join in, but she kept her back to him stubbornly, the only thing colder than the wintry air being the icy silence between them. He took a chance and slid in next to her, leaning his elbows on the railing and peering up at the brilliant crescent moon, admiring how its beams highlighted the features of his radiant wife. The shine of her long silver hair rippling down her back, the slight sparkling tips of her curved horns, the glimmer in each of her deep violet eyes— so far away and sorrowful that he couldn’t help but reach for her hand.
“I think Ari’s okay for now,” he nodded confidently. “I know Moon magic isn’t my strongest area of expertise, but I promise I’ll look into everything I can to figure out what to do about these illusions of hers and how to control them.”
“You were amazin’ in there with her.” Rayla inhaled deeply, a light midnight breeze ruffling her hair away from her shoulders. “You’re a wonderful father, Callum. I hope you know that.”
“What’s wrong?” He cut right to the chase, as he always did, and her contented expression dropped into a frown. If he was going to be blunt with her, then he would receive it right back.
“Don’t go into this skirmish,” she muttered quietly in case Ari was still awake.
“Rayla, Ezran needs—”
“Ezran has Soren and Corvus like he’s always had,” Rayla insisted firmly. “Why does he need you?”
“There are rumors that the rebelling forces might have powerful dark mages lurking in their shadows. They could use them as a last resort should we annihilate their front lines of defense.” Callum held her hands, which hung limply in his grasp but she didn’t pull them away. “The King requires the aid of his High Mage. I have to go.”
“And what am I supposed to do? Just stay here helplessly?”
“You’ll stay with Ari and Sylri. You know the risk of both of us going.”
“Of course I know,” she shot back at him. “After what happened to my parents—”
“And what happened to my mother,” Callum added, which softened his wife’s hardened glare just enough. “We have to do this for our girls. They can’t suffer like we did, Rayla, they just can’t.”
“This isn’t right, Callum…” Hugging herself against the brisk wind, she stared out at the Katolian landscape, her tone vicious when next she spoke. “The idea of Ari and Sylri havin’ to grow up without their father. Moon and stars forbid, if— if I have to tell them that their Da is never comin’ home again—”
“I’ll come back,” Callum insisted, his emerald gaze overflowing with earnesty. “We’ll be gone for a couple weeks. A month tops. I promise.”
“You can’t promise that,” she shook her head, her eyes beginning to shine with hot angry tears at this entire situation and how completely useless she felt within it. “And you can’t promise you’ll come back either.”
Callum closed his mouth at that, knowing deep in his heart that she was right but refusing to voice it aloud. As did Rayla refuse to say aloud why she would not accompany him even if he allowed her to: She would not let herself and Callum become like her parents. Their daughters would not grow to resent them for choosing duty over family. Never again.
“No,” Rayla said sharply, pulling away as he leaned in for an embrace and gripping the balcony railing until her knuckles turned white. “Don’t do that Callum, I can’t handle it right now.”
“I leave in two days,” Callum said softly, the pain evident in his voice. “And… if I don’t…”
“Stop it. Please.” She didn’t know how much longer her composure would hold if he kept on talking. If there really was an army of dark mages lurking out there, then he was just a single primal archmage against them. An incredibly skilled one, but still only one.
All it took was a hand on her shoulder to shatter the fragile glass of her defenses, Rayla pressing a hand to her mouth as she steadied herself against the railing.
“I love you so much, Rayla.”
“Callum—” Flinging herself around, she hooked her arms around his neck in a nearly strangling hold and sobbed, frustration and fear shuddering out of her while Callum held her so close as if it were indeed their last night together, inhaling the pine and lavender scent of her hair. Rayla clung to him only for a short while before she wrenched herself back, swiping at her face as if ashamed of her outburst, even though her husband’s cheeks were stained with tears as well.
“Last chance to reconsider,” she rasped out, and Callum let out a dry chuckle.
“Unless you know another High Mage of Katolis, I’m stuck.” It seemed no matter what he did to lighten the mood, Rayla’s expression only darkened more. Taking her hand, he gently tugged her forward and she relented, leaning against his chest as his arms encircled her. Allowing him to be her protector as she was known to protect others.
“I don’t wanna be mad at your brother, but I am,” she finally confessed, her fingers curling into his silken nightshirt.
“Rayla,” Callum pulled back slightly, frowning down at her. “That’s not fair. You know Ezran wouldn’t order me to go if it wasn’t a dire situation.”
“Ezran doesn’t have children,” Rayla persisted, her violet eyes flashing. “He doesn’t understand, we can’t just run off into battle at his command anymore.”
“He does understand!” Callum dropped his voice instantly after it rose with emotion, glancing quickly inside to make sure Ari hadn’t awakened. She only rolled over in her sleep, and he sighed in relief. “He does,” he went on. “Soren wanted both of us to go and Ez shot it down. Because of our girls. Because I wasn’t the only one who lost a mother all those years ago.”
“But he still needs you,” his wife bit out. “He’s still riskin’ your life in the name of this kingdom. And because of his decision, there’s a chance you might be taken from us.”
“If there really are dark mages, Rayla, our forces won’t stand a chance,” Callum said gravely. “We’re talking a few hundred lives on the line. If I can push them back at all, I’m going to be there to do it.”
“I know you are. There’s… there’s nothin’ I can do to talk you outta this, is there?” Callum shook his head, pressing his forehead against hers as they relished in their silence, Rayla’s grip on his shirt only tightening as she closed the little space between them. “Then I’m gonna be angry at you, too.”
He inhaled sharply as she pulled him in for a fierce passionate kiss, her sweet and salty lips working desperately to seek his weakness, that soft spot that would convince him to refuse his king’s order. Callum kissed her back just as ardently, his own lips telling her “goodbye”, “I love you”, and “I’ll return soon”, with every caress against her own. And when Rayla pulled away with tears streaming down her cheeks, it was understood that no words needed to be spoken.
“You can be mad at me all you want. But if you cry…” His voice shook, wiping at her cheeks in vain. “I’ll fall apart before I even leave.”
“Good,” Rayla warbled, pecking the side of his mouth again before turning him around to face their sleeping daughter. Ari had thankfully not woken up to their argument nor to any more night terror illusions, her little mouth twitching as she hopefully dreamed of more pleasant visions.
“Our daughter is seein’ ghosts, Callum.” She looked up at him, her beautiful gaze laced with dread. “You better not become one of them.”
“Sylri— Sylri Tiadrin! Get your wee rump back here and put your bottoms on now!”
Squealing in delight, little Sylri had about as much obedience as any typical toddler, and Rayla was at her wits end. Blowing a strand of silver hair out of her face, she bunched the little pajama shorts up in one hand and marched over to where her younger daughter bounced on her tiptoes in the corner of the nursery in her nightshirt and underwear. Taunting her. Oh yes, it looked like her mother had her cornered, but any moment now—
“Ach!” Sylri sprinted right under her arm on the fastest little legs Rayla had ever seen, even for a halfling child. “Ari, guard the door!”
“No, Sylri!” Ari ran in front of the exit with her arms outstretched. “Go to Mummy!” Sylri let out a long whine, sticking out her lower lip and stomping her wee feet.
“Oh don’t you start that now,” Rayla scolded, scooping her baby up in her free arm and hanging on tight while she wiggled like a worm. “It’s late, you’ve had an excitin’ day and now it’s time for bed.” Sylri tried to kick herself free as Rayla lay her on her back on Ari’s bed and slid her shorts on, deftly dodging all of her nimble footwork flying at her face.
“No bed!” Sylri pouted, folding her arms tightly over her chest and scrunching her face up tightly. “No bed!”
“Yes bed,” her mother repeated firmly, picking her up and plopping her in her lap. “Or no dessert tomorrow, how ‘bout that?” Sylri’s olive green eyes grew wide and she shook her head frantically. “I had a feelin’ you’d see things my way.”
“Mummy, can we have jelly tarts in bed?” Ari asked, climbing under her covers beside them.
“I think the last thing the two of you need is more sugar,” Rayla sighed out, starting to rock the squirming Sylri cradled in her arms and smoothing down her fine silver hair. “You both had plenty of samples from practically every bakery in Katolis today.”
“Fow-er!” Sylri stated proudly, pointing to her cheek where a little blue rose had been painted earlier that day.
“And face painting,” Ari added, her own silver elven face markings having been smudged a while ago. “I wanna do girls’ day out again!”
“That was fun, wasn’t it?” her mother smiled rather pensively, glancing fondly between the two of them. “Maybe if you both are good for your governesses, we’ll do this again next weekend.”
“And then we’ll eat jelly tarts and Moonberry Surprise in bed?”
“Oh you want Moonberry Surprise now, eh?” Rayla grinned mischievously, tickling Ari’s stomach as she rolled back onto the mattress laughing loudly. “You know we only have that on special occasions.”
“I know! You know when we can have it again?”
“When’s that?”
Ari spread her arms wide, “When Da comes home from his trip!”
The mirth flickered for only a moment in Rayla’s violet eyes, her smile slipping a mere fraction. “That’s— that’s a great idea, Ari. We’ll save it for then.”
“Dada,” Sylri echoed her sister, patting Rayla’s chest with her little hand. “Dada!”
“I know— he’s not here, moonbeam.” She kissed the top of Sylri’s head, refusing to look anywhere but into her eyes; the same shade of green as her husband’s.
“When’s he coming back, Mummy?” Ari asked with a wide inquisitive stare that seemed to sear into Rayla’s very core.
“I… girls, listen.” She inched closer to Ari as Sylri leaned her little head against her mother’s chest, having finally tuckered herself out. “I got some news about Da today and…” Rayla swallowed hard, “It’s gonna be awhile before he gets home to us.”
“How long?”
“I dunno, wee one. But whenever you see the moon through your window, Ari, I want you to say that ritual I taught you. Wish and hope with everythin’ inside you that this trip will be a success.” Rayla felt as if she had done nothing but pray to the moon above for three weeks, for all the good it did. To merely remain stagnant, safe and warm, out of harm’s way with their daughters in her arms while Callum was anything but had torn her apart from the inside out.
“Mummy?” Ari whispered, snuggling up next to her. “Are you crying?”
Rayla tried to blink at the tears rapidly filling her eyes, but that only made them spill down her cheeks in thick, gleaming, very noticeable tracks. “I— it’s nothin’, wee one. I just miss your Da, that’s all.”
“Me too.” Her little girl wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight, “It’s okay to cry.”
“Thank you, Ari…” Biting her lip to keep the storm in her heart at bay, Rayla pulled Ari close as she cradled both her and the sleepy Sylri within her tearful embrace. “I love you both so much.”
“Love you,” Sylri murmured in her sleep.
“I love you too, Mummy,” Ari whispered. “And we love Da so much, even when he’s gone.”
Rayla’s heart seized painfully, her throat burning too hot, the lump within too thick, keeping her from responding. So she just clutched her daughters tighter and held them until both sets of eyes had closed for the night. Then, after kissing Ari on the forehead, setting Sylri in her crib and kissing her as well, their mother finally turned out her one ray of light and plunged herself into darkness.
Leaning her back against the closed door out in the corridor, Rayla slid all the way down to the floor, her pointed ears ringing and her breaths rattling in her chest. Tomorrow. She would do it tomorrow. First thing in the morning. Or would she prove to be a coward before her own children once again? Before the entire kingdom and realm?
With the king, the high mage, and both head crownguard absent, that left Rayla and Opeli in charge of the high council meetings. And while Rayla had become more confident taking charge in the five years she and Callum had been married, she still didn’t mind having to defer to Opeli’s experienced leadership once in awhile. Which she had needed to when she was suddenly and discreetly called from the meeting earlier that morning by a guard and hastened out into the corridor to find the Crow Master waiting for her. Holding a tightly rolled missive bearing the king’s seal and an extremely solemn expression.
“My apologies for calling you away, My Lady. But… this was sent with the highest urgency.”
As she read its contents, Rayla had stuffed her fist against her mouth to keep from crying out, yet it did nothing to stop the tears from flowing and her shoulders from quaking with sobs. Only a precious few people had ever seen Rayla cry. The fact that she now had to add the Crow Master to that list irked her more than it should, especially given the circumstances. And then, as abruptly as it had arisen, she dried her face, walked back into the meeting, and went on like nothing had happened. She took the girls shopping in the village that afternoon, let them dance and play in the square with the other children— made sure they were happy and content even though their mother was destroyed beyond repair beneath her smile.
How was she going to tell them? She couldn’t. She hadn’t. Simple as that. She had barely made it through tucking them into bed, and she had made absolutely sure that both Ari and Sylri had their eyes closed and were breathing deeply before her silent mourning began.
Not a single guard on patrol paid her any mind when their princess flung herself around the corner and curled up into a ball on one of the corridor window sills, pressing her face into her palms and sobbing as if her heart would break. If only this were one of Ari’s illusions; if only it were as simple as screaming “Stop!”, waking up from this horror, this nightmare, and her family being whole and together again.
“I told you,” Rayla gulped as if he were sitting right across from her, her broken tone punctured by anger, regret and tears. “I told you to stay. I told you not to go. And now—”
With trembling fingers, she reached down into her pocket and withdrew the letter from the king, her brother-in-law. Its contents were less decipherable than usual, as if his hand had been shaking so badly when he’d penned it that it had affected its legibility. About halfway down the page, what appeared to be tear marks had dripped to smudge the ink, sending another piercing ache through Rayla’s already shattered heart as she once again engrained the letter’s contents into her mind, as much as her very soul beseeched them not to be true.
Rayla,
We pushed back the rebel forces. Callum is gravely injured. He’s stable, but it’s taking all our efforts to keep him that way. Our healers are doing everything they can, but they feel it’s safer for him to stay here at the front rather than try and transport him back to the castle. It’s that bad.
In all honesty, I’m scared. I’ve never known a world without my brother in it, and having to face even this possibility is more than I can bear. I know you were against this decision, and I know you’re furious with me, but I need you to understand that we could not have defeated this threat without Callum. His quick strategic planning and primal abilities saved us all.
But I know he was thinking of you, Ari and Sylri the entire time. You’re the three people he loves most in the entire world. And he wanted more than anything to come back home to you.
I’ll send urgent word if his condition worsens so you and the girls can come as soon as possible. He would want you all here with him then.
I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.
Ezran