Hearts of Home

Arathran forced his fingers to unclench.

Always he'd done his duty, willing, but without true understanding. Not until he'd swam up out of blackness and pain, guided by her soft voice and gentle touch, and looked into her eyes had he known why.

For this he'd faced the Black Gate – but returned to find her gone.

"Yes lord." The healer half-stepped back. "Left the day you rode out. Said she'd no family left at home. That she'd not leave the mares and foals to stand alone against the Darkness."

A fair valley, she'd said, no more. But he'd find her.