Iron of the Innocent: The Dark Judge (Vol 1)

Chapter 19: A Friend's Suggestion

247 I.C.
Sacren
Solorn Kingdom
Solorn Province
The Ruin Estate

Twenty-seven years in the past...

Sesha Ruin rubbed her hands together in an attempt to remove the grass and dirt. An old, massive tree supported her back, and its shadows hovered about her. The rough bark and hard points of the wood pressed against her. She sat against it and sighed, crossing her arms around her knees, hugging them close. Her blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she wore a simple, green shirt and a long, brown skirt. Her bare feet were as marred as her hands with traces of earth.

The young woman's eyes were red and puffy from her sadness, and she had gone off into the woods to be alone. Arathan had tried to comfort her, but she simply did not want to hear his attempts at soothing her feelings. She felt her emotions deep, and could not hide her feelings from him. Sometimes she just wanted to be alone, so she could feel without interference.

It had been a few months since she lost their second child, and she felt a hole inside her chest that ached without ceasing.  Arathan had been so happy when she had become pregnant again. The hope was tangible in the room that this time everything would be alright. Then hope turned into despair. Arathan spoke gently to her with loving words, but Sesha's grief was inconsolable.

Sesha's tummy felt hollow, and she cursed her body. Her anger was turned inward, and she hated that her body would not carry her beloved children to their time of birth. She felt worthless despite Arathan's supportive love. He assured her that it would happen in time, and they needed to believe with patience. None of Sesha's sisters had this problem, or her friends, or her own mother. Tears welled in her eyes, and her arms dropped down to her abdomen. She hugged her broken body and let the quiet tears come once more as she looked up toward the sky.

The young woman was normally happy and filled with optimism. She always believed in all the good that life would bring her, but then, aside from Arathan, she had lost what was most precious to her. The second time was worse that the first. There were no answers to the many questions in her mind and heart, and none would be given. She rubbed the tears from her cheeks and lay down on the soft grass between the roots of the tree. She folded her cloak and used it as a pillow.

The fall season was still warm, and the early afternoon breeze picked up moving through the branches of the tree. The sound relaxed her, and her eyes looked to the blue of the sky visible in the forest clearing. The few white clouds appeared fluffy and soft. Sesha wished she could sleep on them. The breeze quieted and the warm sun shone bright.

Sesha felt herself drift, drowsy from the emotional release. She would have allowed herself to sleep, but she heard someone walking in the woods nearby. Irritation bloomed inside her mind, and she sat up ready to give Arathan a real lashing for his insensitive choice to come hunt her down when she wanted to be alone. Sesha's irritation disappeared the moment she saw the other person. It was not Arathan.

Walking along the edge of the clearing, another woman appeared. She was tall, thin, and wore a red cloak over her traveling clothes. Her red shirt was tucked into baggy pants that were in turn tucked into her leather boots. The woman's brown hair was long and flowed out behind her. There was a straight, long dagger at her hip, and she carried a basket in the crook of her elbow. She looked across the clearing as she walked, appearing to be looking for something in particular.

"Tabitha?" Sesha asked as she climbed to her feet. She brushed her clothing off and took a step toward the other woman.

Tabitha's hazel eyes snapped to the sound of the voice and immediately a warm, smile spread across her features. "Sesha!" she said with happiness as she walked forward quickly. Sesha took another step forward.