Realm of Ash Series: Soul Bond (Book 1)

CHAPTER 6 - AMMI

Ammi awoke from her slumber after a deafening boom of thunder felt like it shook her home. Sleepy and confused to find her illegitimate husband had not returned to rest by her side in the early hours of the morning, as he did every morning prior. More unsure why he had not returned home with her son yet was more concerning.
Born out of wedlock, Ammi never married or took on the name of Knox. Travon never had the time, nor money for something so lavish, but she remained loyal to Ulric and Travon regardless, ensuring her son did not grow into a broken family. Over time she convinced herself that loyalty was worth more than a ring or an expensive occasion, she had Ulric to keep them all together. The anxious mother spent her day awaiting their return, watching the rains fall heavier with each passing hour.

Ulric must be waiting for his father to return from the lake, but what if the weather has proven too much for Travon?
Coiling in her mind, she grew evermore uneasy. She eventually grew tired of waiting, she donned her cloak and hood and ventured out towards the blacksmiths.

Presuming Travon was close to arriving back at shore, she suspected Ulric had gone to pick up the daily order from The Amber Anvil instead this time. Ammi knew Travon and Artimus had a history but knew her husband was better than to spark old hatred when meeting each other for business concerns. But she remained unaware Ulric had been going to collect the daily order from Artimus for a while, due to the growing, heated, hatred between them. To others it appeared more as verbally aggressive business competitors. The truth behind Travon's grudge against Artimus remained unclear, only speckled with rumours and speculation and continued to puzzle Ammi that any of these possibilities could be true, and the reason why her family had not returned home yet. Reaching for her silver bird necklace pendant around her neck, as often as she did, she felt fiddling with it when anxious, put her at ease with a willing grasp for luck, especially when it came to family. The more she fiddled with the pendant, the quicker she ran towards the entrance to the blacksmiths to shelter from the storm. Approaching, she found the front door already open, creaking in the storms gusty winds. She peered around the doorway and into the workshop in disarray, listening to the faint sound of sobbing at the rear of the store. Upon entering, she spots the deceased Artimus alongside a weeping Roland at the back of the workshop, cradling his dead father. Distraught from the chaos she ran over to aid Roland's distress, crouching beside him and placing her hand on his shoulder.

"My darling boy, what happened to your father?" Looking down at the crusting wound around the sword.
"Travon". Roland muttered, angrily through clenched teeth.
"My Travon?" Ammi replied softly in horror.
"He attacked me, murdered my father, and stole everything from us". Roland wept.
Part of them both knew this day was always a possibility for either man to end up with this fate, Roland and Ammi just didn't want to admit it.
"Where is he now?" Ammi asked.
"I have no idea Ammi, the harbour?" he said sharply, wiping his tears.
She gently stood back up to reflect on what she had just heard. She could not help but feel it was her fault this happened, being so ignorant to Travon's temper.

Knowing this wasn't her fault, Roland chose to give her a bit more guidance.
"He was muttering something about teaching Ulric to fish or something, and that he needed supplies. He was rushing to get out of Blackwall for some reason".
"Rushing to get out of Blackwall?" she nervously pondered.
"Thank you Roland. I'll send for help".
Hesitating at her parting comment before reluctantly standing, she began making her way out of the workshop. Grudgingly leaving the poor boy in distress, she made her way to the harbour. On the way down the sodden, slippery harbour steps, she stopped halfway to peer through the steamed windows of the Stormy Giant, listening to the loud celebratory applauding crowd inside, spotting the ebullient Raff and Retch amongst the other crew drinking and cheering, parading along the bar top.