Mages of Rubia ✔️

37

"We need to retrieve Arden's body. That's our main focus. They wanted to go back to Himnoa," I say.

I only left them for a moment. I checked every corpse, and none was theirs. So Azarius must have taken them. It's a taunt.

The soldiers agree.

"And if we can take out Azarius while we're there, all the better."

He killed many of their men all by himself. And he killed Arden. Everybody loved Arden. They were always the one hanging out with everyone, telling jokes. A few even told me they had cried to them while missing their families.

"The next few weeks we're training and recuperating. If you're good to go, train. If you need time, take it."

They nod, muttering to themselves.

"We'll lay out our battle plan after I scout tomorrow."

"Should you really be the one scouting, captain?"

"You are a bit loud," Ravana mutters.

"I just meant, since you're the leader, sir," the soldier amends.

"I know the ins and outs of the colony. I'm the best fit. If there's any trouble, Ravana knows what to do."

"I don't think I can bust you out twice, darling."

I roll my eyes. "Meeting adjourned. Go take your time. Spar if you want, but I'd say today is a day for grief and leisure."

The soldiers file out of the tents, organized like an army of ants. Ravana is the only one that stays.

"Maybe I should go."

"I'm not losing both of you."

"Imagine how I feel."

I turn to him and try my best smile. "I'll be alright, love. I promise."

He presses a kiss to my hair. "I know. But you need rest, too. You shouldn't be immediately planning an attack."

"I'll rest today. Well, after I chop some firewood."

"Someone else can."

"I want to. I have to get out the anger."

Ravana nods. "I understand. You should find your beaston. Connect with yourself."

"Yeah. And I have to talk to Bee."

He pulls me into his arms for a moment, then pats my back. A bit hard. It centers me, knocks my brain back in gear. He releases me with a weak smile.

"I'm gonna try and connect with Cooper."

I nod, and head out to the woodpile. We have a few half-cut trees. Arden used to chop the wood with one of the younger soldiers, before.

When I start cutting the wood, she ambles up and joins me.

"Glad to see you're alive and well," I say.

"Ravana healed me this morning. I heard about Arden, too."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too. They were a good one. Very nice fellow."

I nod, hitting the wood a little harder.

"Were they really pregnant? I'm sorry, I just have to ask."

"Yeah. We were gonna name them Jamie."

She sniffs. "Evil bastards."

I think of their final words. Finally an end to our silent confessions. But I didn't get the chance to say it back. I know they knew though. We were going to be married, how could I agree to that and not love them? We were going to have a child.