It was not entirely a lie.
Bria rested her forehead briefly against his chest.
Kaelan lowered his head slightly. “Can you walk?”
She nodded.
Relief struck him hard enough to nearly weaken his knees. He hid it well. Years of battle had taught him that.
“A bit of rest should do you good,” he said, anxious to get her to the cottage.
Bria looked up at him and nodded.
Kaelan wasted no time.
Whatever she had seen, whatever had shaken her so badly, he intended to learn the truth of it. And he intended to do so far from curious eyes and ears.
Kaelan kept his arm firmly around Bria as he guided her from the building and the entire walk back to the cottage. Several times he looked down at her. Each time his concern deepened.
The moment they stepped inside the cottage, Kaelan secured the door as Bria drifted near the hearth.
Crossing the room, he gathered her into his arms, and she rested her head against his chest.
Neither spoke.
Kaelan waited and only when he felt some of the tension leave her body, did he press a kiss to the top of her head.
“Wife.” His voice was gentle. Far gentler than most people ever heard from him.
Bria’s arms slipped around his waist.
He held her tighter. “What happened?”
For a moment he thought she might not answer. Then he felt her draw a slow breath.
“I saw her.”
Kaelan instinctively knew who she meant. “The woman from the mist.”
“Aye, it was her.”
He leaned back enough to look down at her. “What did you see, wife?”
“I saw Elara lying on the ground.”
Kaelan said nothing, letting her continue.
“Dar was there.” Her voice softened. “His pain was overwhelming.” She rested her cheek briefly against his chest. “The woman appeared then.”
Kaelan felt her fingers tighten against him.
“She went to Elara and placed her hand over her heart.”
Bria fell silent, struggling to understand what she saw.
“What happened then?” Kaelan asked, encouraging her to tell him more.
Bria lifted her head to look at him. “Power.”
