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I turn to face William. “Gone,” I say.
His eyes mist, and the harsh expression I’ve become accustomed to seeing on his face falls away. “I am so sorry.”
“Thank you.” I look back toward the room where I can hear Anderson chatting happily. “How are the children?”
“Ma has the youngest in the bath now. Her brother insisted she get cleaned up first and refuses to leave her side even for an instant.”
“He saved my life,” I tell him truthfully. “The Tenebris attacked the city on the edge of the meadows. If it weren’t for his quick thinking and pulling me into the space beneath a building, I doubt I would have survived.”
William arches his brows. “Smart boy.”
“Smart and strong.” I cross my arms. “He says that their parents died two years ago and they’ve been on their own ever since. He cares for his sister as a father would a daughter.”
William shakes his head. “These cities do not leave room for children to be safe.”
“Can they stay here?” I ask. “They cannot come to the Land of the Giants with me, and I don’t want to send them on their way.”
“Of course,” he replies without hesitation. “Ma would be ecstatic to care for them.”
I look back at the image. “Thank you.”
“Do you want me to pull it down?”
I shake my head. “I like seeing him that way. Without the weight of the world on his shoulders.”
William reaches up and touches my arm. We stand in silence, staring at the portrait of Fort and me, my eyes full of tears, both of us remembering moments we thought would last forever.
If only.
* * *
For the first time since Soreno, I sleep nearly five hours. As quietly as I can, I get up from where I lie on the floor and slip from the room, leaving Anderson and Andy sleeping soundly in the bed.
Kira is already up and preparing what smells deliciously like tea and a hot breakfast. She smiles when she sees me. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did.”
“And the children?”
“Likely better than they have in years.”
She clicks her tongue and shakes her head. “Those poor dears. The youngest’s hair was so matted. I barely managed to get the tangles out without having to give her a haircut.”
They’d looked so clean and happy when we’d eaten dinner together last night. Both Anderson and Andy scarfed their food then went back for seconds. Anderson even had a third helping of the hearty stew.
“Did William tell you what I asked?”
She nods. “They can absolutely stay here. As long as they need.”
“My plan is to come back for them once I’ve slayed the giants. Though, I’m not sure where we’ll go from there.” I take a seat at her table. “And if I don’t come back—” Kira reaches over and gently covers my hand.
“We will protect them with our lives, Carleah. I will treat them as I did my William—as though they are my own blood.”
“Thank you.”
She nods. “William tells me—” A horse whinnies outside, and I jump to my feet, my hand already drawing my sword. Is it possible he found me? But how? How would he—I rush to the front door, cracking it just enough to peer outside, and then my heart stops as a massive white Pegasus lands just beyond the porch—his rider eclipsed in darkness.
“Stay inside,” I order then pull open the door. I haven’t seen Shadow since before Soreno, and if he’s here now, it’s unlikely we’re in any danger. But since I cannot see who rides him—
