For Her

22. Relief

Hebaron Nirta gritted his teeth, his nerves on edge as he paced the edge of the church, ready to burst in but Uslin had kept them back and honestly, he had no idea why he was worried. Riftan would beat that shit to smithereens with ease but when he heard someone scream he drew his sword.

Uslin kept him back, commenting quietly after a glance once he looked through and he sighed, shaking his head softly. "It's done. Give them a moment." Hebaron didn't need to question any further. Why the hell was he worried in the first place? The Commander's fury at the now very dead bastard was a testament to what the Commander will do when it came to the Lady. Hebaron didn't blame him.

Knowing the Lady was actually alive the entire time and had only used medicine to faux dead, a stunning but stupid plan that he hated to see how it could've gone wrong but he preferred to look at the bright side of things. The relief was imminent on the all the knights face, everyone was okay and they would go home soon.

A soft creak caught his attention and the knights straightened, watching the church doors part open and the commander slip through them, a thin neat cut on his cheek had a thin line of blood dripping faintly down but nothing major. His face was stained slightly with a smatter of thin droplets and his eyes were dark and red ringed but his face was...relieved. The emotions on his face were strong, pained and wrought with tension and worry as the Lady slipped through the doors with him. She looked more of a mess than him and Hebaron wanted to smack himself.

The Lady had been through enough hell, and now this. Goodness only knows what else she went through with those bastards. But as she kept herself close to Riftan who had an arm wrapped around her waist as she stumbled with him, her face pale and evidence of tears of dried tears on her face but the relief was just as clear as Riftan's.

Hebaron smiled slightly at the sight as the couple climbed down the steps and Uslin disappeared inside the church along with another knight to check the body and make sure they were really dead and prepare to move it. The Lord would need to send a letter to the idiots father.

The Lady stumbled as she reached the ground, her right leg giving out beneath as she gasped in surprise and Riftan quickly swept her up in his arms.

"Riftan, I-I'm fine-"

"Shush, you always say that. Let me hold you." Riftan muttered despite her mumbles and he strode past the knights without bothering to look their way. That was the norm Hebaron was accustomed to and he didn't mind it. It was nice seeing the commander this way and he didn't blame the guy. His wife was attacked in her home, kidnapped, gone for a week, presumed dead, hunted down the bastards responsible, only to come back find out she was still alive and the one person truly responsible had gotten a hold of her again.

"They need a holiday." Hebaron sighed, running a hand through his hair before grumbling to himself as he sheathed his sword. 'And so do I."

"On what grounds would you need a holiday?" Gabel muttered as they followed the road down to the inn.

"Following the commander around is like reading a very intense story. It's exhausting and I need pick me ups before I endure more heartache."

Gabel only stared at him like he was a madman before hurrying off quickly and Hebaron shrugged after him. "You know what I'm talking about! Don't pretend you don't."

---

"Check her over. Make sure she is fine."

"I am fine."

"I'll let Ruth decide that." Riftan muttered, glancing at Ruth who rolled his eyes at Riftan's behaviour but checked Maxi's pulse and temperature and asked questions.