Daughter of War

Chapter 23 - Fallen Warriors

Thora watches her pups, she opens the kennel door and the five pup's race out and play at Thora's feet.

"You're going to need names, if you're going to stay with me," Thora smiles, sitting down on the floor.

"Thora," a voice says, Thora looks up and sees Ragana standing next to Esmilia.

"Ragana," Thora gapes, standing to her feet quickly.

"I'm sorry for your loss," the seer says with a small bow.

"Where have you been?" Thora asks, her teeth grinding, "You show up to save my son's life once, and when his life is threatened again, you're nowhere to be seen."

Thora clenches her fists at her side and Ragana looks down.

"Remember the first time we met, my queen," Ragana says, but her voice just makes Thora more irritated, "this is part of our fate."

"Fate?!" Thora snarls, "You want me to save you and your followers, well forget it."

"My queen-"

"I'm not a queen, I'm not a princess, I'm no one, as a seer, you'd think you'd know that," Thora's voice is deep and feral, she glares at the seer before her and has thoughts of cutting off her head like she did Suttarra's.

"Leave me," Thora snarls, "if I ever see you again, I will kill you. You are just as responsible for their deaths as Suttarra was."

Ragana bows low and then leaves, not brave enough to test if Thora's bluffing.

Esmilia stands in front of Thora, uncomfortable at the exchange she witnessed.

"Ragana said you are going after the man who killed Alden," Esmilia says softly, her eyes flick to the pups at Thora's feet and then back up to Thora's eyes, "I want to come with you."

"No," Thora says, her voice softening, "I won't put you in harm's way."

"I'm a freedom daughter," Esmilia says with a soft chuckle, "I go into dangerous situations all the time," Esmilia then goes silent as she looks to her feet, "besides, you're not the only one who wants revenge."

Thora can see Alden in Esmilia's eyes, she can also see the pain and the hurt behind those eyes.

It's hard to look at Esmilia, she looks so much like her twin that a pang of sorrow floods into Thora's chest.

"I'm sorry," Thora says, she steps towards Esmilia and takes her hand, "I'm sorry I couldn't save him."

"It was never your fault," Esmilia says, looking to Thora with tears welling in her eyes.

Esmilia hugs Thora and the pair cry together, still mourning the loss of their loved ones.

...

Later that night, Thora and her growing company sit with her family for dinner.

"Will you be saying for long?" Genorra asks, not looking at her sister as she cuts up her meat.

"I will be gone in a few weeks; before father returns," Thora answers.

"Good," she says, finally looking to Thora, "The castle is becoming crowded."

"Do you have a problem with me?" Thora asks, Thora watches as Genorra clenches her jaws and curls her hands into fists. "Speak your mind, sister, you've never held back before," Thora snarls, watching as Genorra tries to hold her tongue.

"I don't want you here," Genorra says and Thora feels as if she had been slapped in the face, "When you started arguing with father, did you once consider how it would affect us?"