The Truth Over The Wall

Chapter 35

Emery and his men cut through the hedge, and tried their best to level the land. The village stone mason worked through the night to deliver two head stones by the morning.

For the Lady Witch who has saved our village, he had said with a lowered head. He kept his eyes on the ground as he admitted, the one we wronged.

The priest blessed the grounds and read a prayed for the deceased. The entire army stood in attendance for the funeral.

Amara barely reacted to anyone's condolences and she probably did not even see the funeral, but when she walked up to the graves she managed to mutter in a voice devoid of emotion,

"Oh good, they're properly dead now."

Dominic was taken aback by that for a moment but he understood. What was the point? Her parents were still dead. And any show of respect or any form of commiseration from anyone would not bring them back.

"Murdered," Amara had sobbed the word when the priest has used the word deceased. "Say the word, Father. Murdered."

That was the last word she spoke before she lapsed into an unnatural silence. She allowed Hanalea to guide her left or right but she would not allow being fed.

And every time someone offered her water, she would turn away. Hugging herself she would burst into tears, looking up every once in a while to point to her parent's grave as if to say:

They're gone. Can't you see, they're gone...and so am I.

Dominic had seen Amara wake up and keep vigil by her parents. She would sit with her knees pulled up beneath her chin, and her arms wrapped around her legs.

Waiting.

For them to come back. For the nightmare to end. He tried to give her company, to sit beside her and...talk?

But she did not want company. And she certainly did not want to talk. Every time Dominic started to turn in her direction she would change course and walk off. Fobos had taken it upon herself to warn her every time this was about to happen.

Now that Fobos had recovered her memories and her powers, she maintained the ability to shift forms and even talk. At day Fobos stalked Amara's feet as a vixen, and at night she would take Kara's image. And stayed that way, talking to Amara.

Two more days went by and the same culprits that had stepped forward to complain about Amara's presence, emerged agitated stating that they were due in Marabeck. King Matthew expected them any day.

Dominic was holding council with Hanalea and Alistair, trying to figure out what to do when Fobos stepped in.

"We need to talk." she said factually while Hanalea did her best to keep the surprise off of her face. This woman was Amara's pet vixen, and this was going to take some getting used to.

"About?" Dominic remained unfazed. He had always known there was something wrong with Fobos. But the validation had yet to bring him any satisfaction. Fobos had never been fond of Dominic. But now? She seemed always to be bordering on hostility and hatred.

"About Amara," Fobos narrowed Kara's blue eyes so that they glittered with anger. "I just wanted to let you know that you're free of any obligation to remain."

"But Amara's still in mourning." Alistair said, "I don't think it's the best idea in the world to force her to leave when she's not ready. She needs more time."

"Indeed," Fobos confirmed, "she does. Which is why we are staying."

"We?" Dominic scowled at her, "And just who gave you the authority to make that decision?"