: A

t to the road leading into the settlement and watched the soldie

aiting in the shelters. A few never returned at all. Whenever I saw a group approachi

e house where we had been given shelter. "You haven't s

" "You said that yesterday." "Then why are you asking me again?" She gav

We'll hear something soon." I looked at the road. "You don't

ruth was uncertain. I leaned back against the wall. "Kael promised he would send word." "He might not

he could see my face. Mara didn't tell me to stop worry

yself to eat a little bread.

toward the house when I heard horses approaching. Several people rushe

mounted first, speaking quietly to one of the guards. I s

e, I need to ask something." He looked exhausted. "Who are you looking for?

to pound. "You know him?" I asked. The older man stepped forward

away. "Where is he?" The soldier looked down. "I'm s

crossing. There were heavy losses." I stared at him. "What happened to

heard them, but my mind refused to unde

said nothing. "My husband is Kael. He has a scar on his left hand. He served with the king

em. The soldier looked at me with an expr

d away. "No." My voice was barely audible. "He promised

ay Kael was injured or missing, to tell me that he had been sent somewhere else. Anything but this. But the men

nside or who took the basket from my hands. The next thing I remember clearl

when we returned home. Now I ran my fingers over the smooth wood, trying to under

time. Neither had I. Finally, I asked, "Did the

k?" "Not yet." "Then how do they know?" Mar

n I need to go to the captain." "Amelia, please." "I need to

Mara stood too. "You can't travel to the battlefield alone. It's dangerous." "I don't care." "I know y

et. I immediately regretted them, but I c

" I whispered. "I need to see him." Mara stepped closer and

ied because I hadn't said everything I wanted to say. And I cried because the las

I would have told him that I loved him again. I would have asked him to stay, even tho

side the settlement hall when I approached. "Captain, I need to ask you about my husb

efend the river crossing. The enemy advanced before our men could se

from his unit survived the fighting. He reported that Kael had fallen during the retreat."

ou're asking." "No, you don't." My voice trembled. "You ha

Tell me where the fighting happened. Tell me where I can look for him." "The battlefield is still under enemy control. We can't send c

ngs beyond my control. When I opened my eyes again, I looked directly at him. "If a

rvived, we'll do everything we can to find him." It wasn't the an

myself to consider that the soldiers might have been wrong. Perhaps Kael had been separated from his unit.

perate hopes. Still, I held on to them. I wasn't rea

he distant hills. The settlement had grown quieter. Families were settling i

long the folds from being opened too many times. Don't worry about

word." I looked toward the road. "I've been waiting for you." There

eyes in the morning. He had been the person I argued with over food, laug

ger table, and perhaps children who would inherit his stubbornness and my temper. We h

't know what to do with all the

s without you, Kael." The words were small, bu

come inside. She simply sat beside me and took my hand. And for that

I could never have imagined. I didn't know that the man I h

n. And I had waited for him, believing the same. I would spend the