Blood Revenge

Chapter 4

Reif was true to his word,leaving again after only a month. The whole time he was home, Anderswas plagued nearly every night by his unexplained nightmares. Ididn't know what to do for him and I was starting to getfrustrated. He wouldn't talk to me about the dreams that woke himand made his hands shake. He would simply bolt awake, breathingheavily, then lie back down and hold me close until his breathingslowed and he fell back into a fitful sleep. When it started toaffect his general mood, I confronted him.

"I can't sit by and watch yousuffer anymore," I said softly one night when he shot up from adream. "Will you please tell me what is going on?"

His eyes pleaded with memomentarily for help, but then he wiped the look from his features.His hand went shakily to my cheek and he looked grateful. "There'snothing you can do Anastasia. I will be fine soon enough. Don'tworry so much."

"Okay, now I knowyou're not alright," I said taking his shaky hand in mine. Andershad never in the 18 years I'd known him used my full name.

He sighed. "I promise, thiswill all be over soon."

I didn't know how he could knowthat for sure, but he gave me a look so pleading, I let it drop andallowed him to take his comfort in my touch. His arm wrapped tightlyaround my waist and his head rested gently on my stomach. "I'm sosorry I can't help," I whispered, hating to see him so defeated.I wiped a tear from my cheek.

He lifted his head to look up atme. "Please don't cry, luv. I'll be fine, you'll see."

I pulled him up closer to me so Icould wrap my arms around him. "If you're not, I'll kill youmyself," I sobbed.

We comforted each other. Reif hadbeen gone all of a week and already I missed him. Little did I knowit would get worse. Two weeks after, Anders' dreams continued and Idecided to take a ride on Chaser to get my mind off my husband'sincreasingly odd behavior. He no longer would joke with me andStephanie said she had seen him get frustrated and yell at Danteduring one of their reading lessons. I needed to figure this out. Ineeded Reif.

I closed my eyes so I could reachout to him and see what he was doing. He'd arrived in Lunda and Isaw him greet Zane like a brother. He felt my presence and sent me awarm shock into my chest. I smiled and let him go do what he neededto. I sighed as he departed and I came back to myself. My ride waslong, but halfway through, I heard galloping hoof beats on the roadbehind me. I spun Chaser around and cautiously pulled my dagger.

"Commander!" Beri announcedbefore coming around the bend. I sheathed my dagger and she stoppedHickory in front of me. Her eyes were wild and her short hair wassticking in all directions. "It's Anders! no one can find him!"

I went cold, then numb. "He'smissing?" I asked. "Since when?"

"A few hours, just after youleft on Chaser," she explained.

I knew better than to questionthe leader of my armies. If she said he was missing, it meant she'dpersonally checked everywhere.My mind panicked. I refused to let my heart get in the way. I had tothink clearly. I knewAnders wouldn't just pick up and leave without word, which meantsomeone very powerful had slipped past his defenses and taken him."Gather Daeron and do one last sweep of the city. I need to contactReif."

She nodded and rode off. I jumpedoff Chaser and in one motion pulled my dagger, slit open my palm andslapped it to the ground beneath my boots. Reif and I had found Icould contact him, mind to mind, while we were separated by miles ifmy blood touched earth. Our bond traveled along the oceans and milesseparating us as I cried out my distress. Reif!Anders is missing!

Stasia? You are muffled, speakup. What is wrong? Iwasn't muffled. I was crying.

I took a deep breath and triedagain. Anders has gonemissing, I projected.

Missing? For how long?He asked and I felt his rage. I knew he was thinking like I was.Someone was responsible.

A few hours.I explained. Beri andDaeron are looking, again.

They will not find him. Reif knew as well as I did. Iwill come to you. Beast can... hehalted. We all forgot, once in a while, that Beast was no longeraround anymore. At this moment, I wished I had his nose. I'msorry Stasia, I will come as swiftly as I can.

Don't come here, Meet us inDravin, I said. I hadto see him as soon as possible. Halfway was my best option.

Of course. Stasia, we willfind him. I swear it.

I'm so scared,I admitted.

I know.

He broke our connection and Iinhaled sharply, ripping some cloth from one of Chaser's saddlebags. I'd learned to keep supplies with me at all times in case ofemergencies like this. I wrapped my bloody palm and hopping on Chaserraced back to the stable. Barking orders to a few soldiers millingabout, I got the preparations underway for the trip to Dravin. Icaught Aelairwen outside with Dante and her brood, keeping themoccupied. "Mama!" Dante cried and threw himself at me.

"Hey there, baby," I smiled,covering my pain and pretending everything was okay. I hugged himtight. "Why don't you go play with Kiiryan, he's outnumbered byall of his sisters."

"Mama, where's Da?" Danteasked innocently.

I glanced at Wen and she lookedsympathetic. I returned my attention to Dante. "Da had an emergencyhe had to take care of, and I'm going to have to join him realsoon." Dante accepted my lie with the trust any seven year old boyholds for his mother.

"Am I staying here with Stepheeand Wen?" he asked with a smile of excitement. I nodded then shooedhim to go play.

I looked at Wen and nearly brokedown. "What am I going to do?" I asked. "We've been a teamfor so long, I..." She hugged me tight.

"You'll find him," shepromised.

I took a deep breath andswallowed my breakdown. I pushed my hair out of my face. "Reif ismeeting me in Dravin."

"I'm sure Beriima is goingwith you. Take Daeron. I wish I could go, but someone needs to staywith the kids."

I smiled gratefully. "Make sureStephanie and Dante are safe," I said. "I trust your bow." Itouched her arm gently.

"Go, get ready. I've gotthis," she urged.

I hurried off to my room to pullout my old leather traveling clothes that Kane had made me so longago. They were perfect because all my knives and other weapons hadtheir own built in sheaths. I was tucking my various knives in theirplaces when Stephanie knocked on the open door. "Mama, I want tohelp."

I looked up and she was dressedvery similarly to me with a sword on her left hip and a dagger on herright. She had her long hair braided tightly and wrapped in a bun atthe base of her skull. Her hands were on her hips and she looked verycommanding. "Absolutely not!" I protested. "This could getdangerous. We don't know who or what we might be dealing with."

"Which is why I should go! Youknow I'm good enough. I can help!" I recognized thatdetermination in her demeanor. My heart softened and I knew if itwere me, I would be going whether I was told yes or no.

I gave her one last scrutinizinglook and gave in. "Fine, but if you get yourself hurt or killed,I'll be cross when we get home. Go tell Beriima you need somethrowing knives."