Eliona's War 2: Veiled Healer

Chapter 39

Severance didn't know how long he'd sat with his face buried in Vast's fur. It wasn't until someone softly said, "Hey," that he finally lifted his head.

To his shock, the sun had dipped below the horizon already, casting them in twilight. It made it hard to see who it was that had abruptly sat beside him. All he knew was that the voice was hoarse, barely louder than a whisper.

It sounded as rough as he felt.

"Hey," he finally whispered back.

It didn't feel quite right speaking loudly in this place. Like Maun said, the Memorial Ground was a place of silent reflection. And knowing that it held a record of the thousands who'd died for the clan made it even more eerie.

The person shifted beside him, letting out a heavy sigh. Vast lifted his head, tugging at Severance's arms but not quite pulling free, and considered the newcomer seriously. Then with a soft hmph, he lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"Everyone's left."

Oh. That voice. Severance held himself very still, suddenly wary. Of all people, why did it have to be Dhin?

He gazed out at the valley, unable to bring himself to look at him. True to Dhin's words, the valley was empty. Somehow, without him even realizing it, the entire clan had left. Well, almost the entire clan.

Dhin was still here.

He dropped his eyes to the mass of silver fur beside him. And there was Vast. He gently scratched behind one of the animal's ears. The tip of Vast's tail thumped lightly on the ground in response.

"You know, it's kind of funny," Dhin said. "The most terrifying predator of the North chooses to attach itself to a healer."

"Hmm," Severance managed. Dhin wasn't wrong, it was sort of funny, in another universe maybe, but he couldn't even crack a smile.

Just sitting here, next to Dhin of all people, was the most torturous thing he'd done. It was even worse than hanging out with Carly and her friends, because what they did to him couldn't even compare to the internal anguish currently lashing at his heart. When would Dhin start yelling and accusing and spitting rage and hatred at the one who'd murdered his father?

It was coming. Severance knew that. It had to come, and the waiting was agony. Maybe that was why Dhin was acting like this. To twist the knife before he yanked it free.

The wind picked up, becoming a gentle cool breeze that rustled through the grasses. It blew some of Severance's hair in his face. He shook his head, trying to dislodge it from his eyes. He wondered if it was longer because he didn't remember having this problem before. Maybe he'd see if Chaaya could trim it for him later.

He focused on this because he needed something to think about, something that had nothing to do with the person sitting beside him, that didn't make his insides wrench at the merest thought. He clung to it, desperately refusing to let his thoughts drift from his stupid hair.

"When I was 14," Dhin began, and despite himself, Severance found himself listening, "I watched my mother and sister die. They were cut down in our house while I hid behind the door, too scared to even try helping them."

Dhin delivered those words with a matter-of-fact calm, and it somehow made it all the more horrifying. Severance turned to stare, more than a little stunned by such a revelation.

He knew something had happened (obviously) to Dhin's mother, but he hadn't imagined it to be something so awful.

"There wasn't anything I could have done," Dhin went on. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "There were four warriors to one of me. If I had left my hiding place, I would have died there with them."