Page 38 of Forged in Fading

Chapter Fourteen

“Stop gawking and get back to work,” Sithuren barked the next afternoon. The blacksmith had only warmed up to Alvara marginally, if that, in their time working together.

She jolted at his words but didn’t tear her eyes from the two elven females that had stumbled into the city only moments ago, escorted by guards. Tears streaked down the bronze face of the younger one, her eyes so reddened and puffy, it was impossible to tell their color.

Though the copper eyes of the older female prodded at something Alvara’s mind wanted to keep locked away. Before Alvara could dig into the feeling to see where it led, Kat landed in front of the pair in her falcon form, shifted, and pulled them into a tight embrace.

“I wasn’t gawking,” Alvara grumbled as she picked up the blade she had stopped sharpening at some point.

“You were, and you know it,” Sithuren said.

When Alvara had finished for the day, she ripped her apron off and tossed it over the anvil before tugging on her coat. Maybe she could catch Kat at the food hall during dinner to find out who those two elves were. For some reason she couldn’t quite place, she needed to know.

Alvara heaved the door open, and for the first time since she had arrived, looked around the room for familiar faces she could join for a meal—never mind that her reason for doing so bordered on nosy.

Kat sat in the far corner, huddled with the two females that had found their way into the city that morning. Plate of food in hand, Alvara approached the group, who all spoke in hushed tones.

“Can I join?”

Instead of the usual bright smile from Kat, Alvara’s words only garnered a subtle nod. She had never seen her…friend, she supposed she should call her now, so solemn. Before she could ask what had happened, the younger elf spoke.

“You’re the one my parents helped. And now he’s gone.” Her sweet, melodious voice dissolved into shuddering sobs.

Alvara took a seat and looked to Kat, whose thick lashes hung heavy with tears. “It’s all my fault. It was my idea to involve your family. I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize for the actions of a madman. Tam always knew this day would come, one way or another.” The older female rubbed the younger elf’s back in slow, soothing motions. “We’ll find a way forward, I promise.” She turned to Alvara, her eyes rimmed with red. “Glad to see you made it out safely. I only hope we can say the same for my son.”

“Son?” Alvara asked.

“Alvara,” Kat said quietly, “this is Boden’s mother, Sylvi, and his sister, Lilja. They’re the ones who helped you after escaping the palace.”

Oh gods. That had been Boden’s family? Their home? “Your seluri healed Pyry. He’s…gone?”

“One of our servants made the connection to who you were once the king sent his guards to search the city,” Sylvi said. “We use the size of our property and orchards to employ as many demi-elves as we can, and they can get nervous, understandably so. He didn’t want to be caught helping a fugitive, so he turned us in to the king’s forces. Our housekeeper found out his plan and was able to warn us so we could leave just in time. Tam, the stubborn bastard, refused.” Her hand paused on her daughter’s back, her fingers clawing the fabric. “He said he needed to do what he could in the council to defy the king. We’re not sure what happened to him.”

That would seem plausible, except that forming a soul bond opened a communication pathway for emotions. If Sylvi’s seluri had faded, she would know without a doubt.

Alvara’s confusion must have become apparent on her face, because Sylvi answered her unspoken question. “He wasn’t my seluri. The only one who could ever fill that role has long since passed. Tam knew that, and he still chose me. That sentimental fool.” Her voice splintered, leaving a stifling silence in its wake.

Most people would craft beautiful words about love and loss, the light that would eventually shine through the pain. But those words had done nothing to make Alvara feel less alone when her world came crashing down around her, the condolences failing to even make a scratch in the wall of grief that still surrounded her.

Good thing Alvara wasn’t most people. “It hurts worse than anything I’ve ever experienced. And people will try to tell you it gets better, and you’ll want to shake them. Tell them how much it hurts and how things will never be the same.” Boden’s sister, Lilja, quieted her cries as she looked at Alvara. Who saw a younger version of herself, losing more than anyone should so early in life. Maybe that was why she said, “I train with weapons before breakfast in the clearing. You’re welcome to join. It’s always helped me.”

Sylvi helped her daughter to her feet. “I should get her settled. It will be a long few days waiting for any news of Tam or Boden.”

Boden. Alvara hadn’t even considered what this would mean for him. What the king might do after realizing Boden’s family had betrayed him and helped an ally of the humans, or so he thought, escape. It would be generous to say Alvara worried for him, but he didn’t deserve to fade. Already his father’s life lay on her conscience—she had no desire to add Boden to the list.

The day he returned, it felt like the entire city breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Alvara spotted him limping by as she finished up her last smithing task of the day. Angry cuts and bruises covered his tan skin, and his shoulders sagged with an unseen weight.

He was alone.

Before hearing about his family, Alvara had maintained some level of anger against him from their last conversation, when he whisked that poor elf away to her fate. But now those frustrations seemed so small and foolish in the face of what had occurred because of Alvara and Pyry. Just like the human servants, she hadn’t considered what involving others like Boden’s family in their escape might mean. And now they were paying a steep price for her carelessness.

Boden shook off the guard who had brought him inside and paused mid-step to stare up at the sky. His clothes, always muted in color and finer than most of the others’, lay wrinkled and stained with all manner of horrors. But nothing compared to the pain pinching his features and the hollowness in his eyes.

Did he even know his mother and sister had survived? At least Alvara knew her family’s fate, though it wasn’t one she would have ever wished for. She couldn’t bear to live not knowing whether her family was alive or had faded without her being able to say goodbye.