Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 90: I Am Sheobulf

Erinne laid across her bed with Anyse slowly waking beside her. Myre's bed was on the other side of the room, against the window so she could look out and see the sights. For now, Erinne let them both rest, but as Anyse peeked open tired eyes, she gave a soft smile. Neither had heard her sneak in, resting fitfully in the evening hours, until now, but she wouldn't trade these quiet moments for the world.

"Hi, sleepy," Erinne leaned her head closer and brushed a kiss on Anyse's nose as her eyes continued to flutter open and closed.

"Ma ma..." Erinne's heart seized at the words she'd been wanting to hear from this precious little darling since before she was born.

"That's right, ma ma ma ma." She felt the grin blossom across her face. Anyse might not understand what the words meant right now, but one day she would. To Erinne, they meant everything.

"Milady?"

She twisted her head to see Myre waking up as Anyse rolled to her stomach and pushed up on her hands, "Did you hear her?"

"I did." She nodded but there was concern in her eyes, "They said you were sick but...I am worried."

She sat up on the bed, taking care with Anyse, facing Myre, "What is it?"

"They've been talking a lot, about you." Myre walked towards her, rubbing sleep out of her eyes, "The guards I mean. I overheard some of them saying that the king was placing you under watch. He doesn't want you alone at all. Ever. Milady, what happened? I do not believe you were sick."

Erinne's heart was starting to pound at what Myre was telling her, but it didn't matter. No matter how much surveillance Wren had on her, she was getting out of here. She had to find her mate. She had to ask him if their son lived. She glanced down at Anyse and her heart sped faster. She had to speak to Cold Hammer...but she dared not take Anyse.

"Come here," she motioned to Myre as she swept her daughter into her arms. "Do you trust me?"

"With all my heart." Myre squeezed her wrist.

"I made a mistake. I spoke with the elven Seer, Alleuess, and she told me that I must do something, but I did it wrong. When I lived with the orcs, they used a potion to speak to the ancestors. I have used it, it works. Their words, they come true. Like the Seer's. Do you believe me?"

Myre's brown eyes blinked once, then twice. "With all my heart, milady, Seers see many things, why would I not believe you?"

She loved the younger woman's candor, "Because the king did not. Nor did Khash. They think it's...blasphemy of sorts, to believe in the orcs ways and not the ways of the humans." She tried to shrug off those words that hurt her soul deep, "The Seer directed me to the flower used in this potion, so I tried to use the flower to commune with the Ancestors."

"Why?"

"I wanted...to speak to Cold Hammer. I thought that's what the Seer meant for me to do but I...I...he wasn't there. I mean—he's not dead. Cold Hammer is alive." She hadn't intended to blurt it out without deeper explanation but the words tumbled out of her, unhindered, and Myre's jaw dropped. "I know, perhaps it sounds crazy, but I did speak to the ancestors. They—"

"What about Andol?" Her hands gripped her arm with an intense strength she hadn't known the girl was capable of. It relieved Erinne's heart to hear the question, to see the hopeful look in her eyes. This gentle human, her best friend, cared for her son's well being and she believed Erinne's words.

"I don't know. I woke before the Ancestor's could tell me for certain, but I believe...I mean, I hope...I mean—" she stuttered but it didn't matter because Myre threw her arms around her neck, squashing Anyse between them who didn't seem to mind at all as she started gnawing on Erinne's arm.