Sons of Ironstorm: Book 5 - Griffon's War

Hidden Treasure

Looking back at the desert princess for a moment, Lawrence found himself nodding in understanding. After being separated from his family for the long moons it took to find the Tree Staff, the first thing he wanted to do was hug his mother and sisters, having missed them terribly since being forced to leave Tal Morun with them still in Mern's dungeons.

Sighing, he turned away from the desert princess to look at his brother. In truth, he still missed them. While they had been rescued from the dungeons by Shawn, he hadn't yet had the chance to see his mother or youngest sister Maria. And though Shiana was now in their company as a near Wielder, his youngest brother was under Will's protection in the refugee caravan marching along the Giant's Way and still distant, and quite possibly in danger.

"We've been scattered like thistle down across the Aramas by the wind, brother," he said with a frown, his voice darkened by sudden melancholy and unease. "The House of Ironstorm has been wounded deeply by the Dark Tide and the Return."

Patrik's eyes narrowed as they returned Lawrence's gaze for a moment. Then he was nodding.

"That we have, brother," he replied, reaching out to put a comforting hand on his older sibling's shoulder. "And none know this better than I, having lived the majority of my life as an orphan in the far south after being carried away in my youth. And you know as well as I that this is so because our fate to defend all of Creation has brought the heavy and dark attention of our enemies upon us and they seek to destroy our strength by breaking us apart."

He paused there to lean in slightly, his expression suddenly intent.

"But the hand of the Creator Himself has brought the three of us back together though we've been apart these eleven cycles. And no force, no Abysslord, no demon will sunder our resolve in the face of our duty."

Patrik gave Lawrence's shoulder a squeeze then a quick slap.

"Besides, are we not children of the First House? We were born to ensure the demons would fall!"

Lawrence chuckled wryly as he saw the fierceness in his brother's expression.

"So we were," he conceded with a nod.

"See?" Patrik gave his brother's shoulder another smack. "You knew it all along!" He turned from the older Ironstorm to make his way to the chamber's entrance. As he did, he continued to talk over his shoulder.

"We already know the members of our family are now safe, thanks to the Creator's own mercy and our allies. Only Time now prevents us from seeing them again!"

He looked over his shoulder at Lawrence, who now wore a thoughtful expression.

"And while we wait for that magical moment to happen, let us make sure our vanguard has the supplies we need to survive until the rest of your armies arrive, yes?"

Both Caedin Tod and the muraan Hhe'muk turned to watch the two Ironstorm brothers step through the storeroom door and immediately come to a halt in shocked surprise at what they saw.

"Aye," Caedin said with a nod. "That was pretty much our reaction as well!"

"Is this ... the work of the fortress's intelligence?" Lawrence asked, his voice tinted by astonishment as he and Patrik joined the two senior members of their company?

"I can only assume so," Patrik, who also oversaw the restoration of Gorgon's Dagger via the power of the Earth Sword, replied. "When Gorgon's Dagger was restored, it used the power of the cosmos to provide for the troops that found themselves unexpectedly behind repaired walls."