The Goblin's Heir

Chapter Sixty Two: Old Scars

The domed shape of the bath house's roof amplified the sounds made within. The groans  and cries of the injured, the dying and their grieving loved ones were amplified ten fold. The combined symphony was nearly deafening as I made my way through the crowd of people in search of Cerise. After our night of celebration, everyone had crashed in exhaustion, commandeering the abandoned houses of the city for themselves and while I was eager to ask Herod about what was going on in the Summer Branches and find out how the lost scouts had gotten to the city, everyone was fast asleep. I however, still needed to be sure Cerise was okay before I could let myself rest. 

I was surprised by the number of men I saw in the bright colors of English military garb. It seemed that Thorns had already collected some survivors from the battlefield on its way to us. The men who were themselves looking for friends and loved ones followed me with their eyes as I passed, instinctually bowing their heads. 

I stopped and turned to a tall young man who'd been staring after me quite intently. "I'm looking for my friend, Cerise. Do you happen to know where I can find a young woman with a French accent. I imagine those are few and far between here."

The soldier's face paled a shade lighter, looking like he was trying to swallow a stone as large as his head. "O-oh, yes, Empress." He stuttered, dropping his upper half into a harsh and sudden bow. His head almost smacked against his knees. 

"At ease. Just answer my question."

 Shakily, he pointed  toward the far back of the large open chamber toward a corner of the vast bath. "One of your sons arrived shortly before you. He went that way, I believe."

"Which one?"

"Empress?"

"Which one of my sons was it? I have a number of them."

"T-the rather large...one."

"Floki." I smiled with a little chuckle. "Then Cerise will no doubt be here. Thank you, Lad. Try not to piss all over yourself whenever one of us speaks to you from now on." I said, laughing as I strode away and the young soldier desperately tried to hide the growing dark stain on the front of his trousers. I could hear Knut's loud whooping laughter in my ears as plain as day. How awfully I missed it.

Once I knew which direction to go, finding Cerise was easy. Floki made an excellent marker. He towered above everyone else like an enormous and sturdy tower.

"Floki, please. I'm fine." The sounds of Cerise's protests would've led me to them even if Floki had not been there to mark their place.

"You were barely breathing when they got you here. I think I have a reason to worry." Floki said, tipping a cup to her mouth. "Drink, please. You still sound hoarse."

"I can do that myself." She huffed, taking the cup from him so swiftly water sloshed over her fingers. "Stop fussing over me." She snapped at him, unable to look anywhere near his face.

She was trying to avoid seeing the evident hurt that pinched his features, but there was no avoiding the sound of it in his voice. "Sorry. I don't mean to annoy you." He turned to leave and stopped when he saw me. 

He smiled, hiding the hurt from me. "Mama, did you come to visit Cerise too?"

"Yes. I hope she's feeling better." I tilted my head to see around his hulking figure. Cerise looked positively tiny as she hid in the corner. There were bruises around her throat that matched my own and the promise of more ringed her bloodshot eyes.

"I am." She insisted refusing to look up from her cup of water. "As I've already insisted to Floki a thousand times. The doctor and the healers will see to me so you both can leave me be."