Dragonsoul

Chapter 53

Grief coiled around Leonie's small frame, squeezing tighter and tighter until her breath escaped her lungs and air could not flow properly to her starved lungs. It clenched her heart, crushing it into tiny pieces scattering around her chest.

"Come now, Leonie. You have already mourned your father long enough. Your family needs you." Clotho said as she gently picked up the tiny human who seemed utterly broken.

"I would have helped, but Fate directly interfering in the matters of mortals has never had good outcomes for the mortals. It has led to more pain and suffering than anything else." Clotho said.

"You greater beings always have excuses for not helping, yet never good ones," Leonie said tiredly.

"Perhaps, but if you had seen the chaos and mayhem that our direct involvement could leave behind, you wouldn't have wanted for us to get involved," Clotho said.

She proceeded to lower Leonie gently onto her bed without Leonie being fully aware that they were back in the real world.

"There is a battle going on outside these doors, and they need you," Clotho said.

"How can I face them after the choice I've made. After I killed my father again!" Leonie screamed.

"You didn't kill anyone. You just preserved the natural order of things. All beings have their time to live and die. Your father's time was up much faster than that of many others, but it was still his time. However, if you are not careful, you might get the rest of your family killed. Rimar is worried about you since he couldn't sense you, and it's distracting him from the fighting." Clotho said.

The moment her words registered in Leonie's mind, she jumped from her bed and rushed outside to join the battle.

"Nice of you to join the dance, Leonie," Toras said, trying to sound cheerful.

However, Leonie could see behind the brave mask he tried to put on for her. Dark circles under his eyes and the shaking of his hands told her all she needed to know about how exhausted Toras was.

Furthermore, he did not appear to be surprised by her absence as much as she expected him to be. Thus, she concluded that he was informed of what transpired, and she could not look him in the eyes for fear that he might judge the choice she had made.

After all, what kind of person turns their back on their own father? Who sacrifices their father's life for those of others, many of which she does not even know?

Toras seemed to be keeping up some sort of a shield between Amitola, Nald, and himself and the trolls. Unfortunately, it did not appear as if the protection he created would be able to hold much longer. Trolls kept throwing whatever they could put their hands on towards it, thus weakening it.

"How can I help?" Leonie asked, trying to judge the situation.

"Honey, I thought you would stay safely inside and let us take care of this," Amitola said gently.

"I would never do that. This is what I have trained for. I was just...otherwise occupied, that's all." Leonie said.

"I can't hold the protective wall for much longer. Take the purple pouch from my bag and sprinkle it over the trolls with Rimar's help." Toras said.

The fact that he was admitting his limitations scared Leonie, but she proceeded to do as she was instructed.

"Is it the potion you were trying to make?" Leonie asked.

"No, I didn't have enough time for that, I had to hurry here. That's a very potent sleeping powder that I am hoping would bring the trolls down for the time being. One speck of it was rumored to have made a dragon fall asleep, I hope it might do the same for the trolls. Now, hurry!" Toras said, grunting in pain.