Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 99: Always at War

"What?!" His roar filled the room and it startled Andol awake. He came up screaming, leaping onto his feet, small fists up and ready to swing. He saw her and his eyes went wide and she thought he was going to faint from fear. "Explain. Now!" He grabbed her chin again but this time there was no passion in his eyes, just vicious fury and she pushed his hand away.

"Stop it, you're scaring, Andol!"

"Erinne!"

"They thought I tried to take my own life, truly, Cold Hammer, please listen. You know Khash would never do anything to harm me."

"Khash had a hand in it? In locking you up? Erinne!" He lifted her hand again, "They tied you down!" He pointed at the marks on her wrists.

"I told you why, I didn't lie about that."

"But you withheld this!" He shook with barely contained rage but his voice was less restrained.

"Because of this!" She motioned wildly at him.

"What about Anyse?"

"Myre looked after her, Myre would never let her be harmed."

"But he kept her from her mother." He frowned, scowling harder, "That's what you're scared of, isn't it? About going back? That he'll keep you from her again?" She couldn't answer that, tears stinging her eyes instead and he roared out his rage and beat her counter once more with his fist. Andol was on the bed, cowering now, his back against the wall.

"Stop, you're scaring—"

Cold Hammer snatched her arm all too roughly and pulled her towards the bed. Andol's eyes widened and he shrank down onto his knees, fear etched on his young face. "Andol, look!" He held up her hands. "Do you see this? Your mother never hurt you, they hurt her, too. Look at this!"

"Cold Hammer stop!"

"Andol, do you see these marks? What do they look like? That's what our wrists looked like from their ropes. They did the same to your mother."

"Stop!" She slipped out of his grasp, scrambling backwards. "This isn't what he needs right now! This isn't what any of us need."

He interrupted her, "How dare he do that to you? You who have served him even when it risked your life, your children's lives. You who have always served him. He repays loyalty by taking away the one thing he knows you value more than your life, your freedom?!" He threw his head back and roared again.

"Cold Hammer, our son!" She took a step towards him and he wheeled on her and grabbed her shoulders. Her spine stiffened as he looked down at her, commanding her attention.

"You tell me honestly right now, did he hurt you?!"

"Just my pride and heart." She reached for his face and he flinched away, letting her go. "Please," she plead but he was wrought with fury and hatred. She could see the memories in his eyes. She'd never seen Cold Hammer like this, but he'd never been subdued and tortured before. He now understood her deepest fear, to be caged, to have her freedom taken fully away. He had now lived that life, living in whatever way his captors deemed fit. His pupils expanded, his chest heaved.

She'd thought he was enraged, but now she wasn't sure as he searched for an exit. He roared again before tearing out the door. She stared in dismay as the door hung loosely on one hinge, tilted and sideways. This was why she hadn't wanted to tell him, she had known he'd react poorly, but she hadn't quite expected this.

She heard a soft noise behind her and turned to see Andol watching her. His eyes were still wide but he was strangely stoic. Her child had been a bright spirit until those animals got their hands on him. Sadness crept in as she risked speaking, "I love you, my sweet darling. I would never hurt or sell you. You're so young, Andol, I know it's hard to understand. I hope that you can understand it wasn't Mommy's fault. I didn't want anyone to hurt you."