Shady

Ky blushed and blinked at her. “I… I don’t know how to facilitate that, I’m sorry. He never answered me when I did the offering.”

“I think he wants me to go to him,” she said very softly. This was painful, defying her mother. But what was she supposed to do? She couldn’t defy Haelar.

“I have to go to Haelar.” She shook her head.

Ky nodded. “That sounds good… just let me know where, and I can send you a letter when it’s all done so you know when to come back.”

“You need to get everyone out of the territory,” she said, glancing up. “To the East or the South”

Ky nodded quietly.

Ky nodded, glancing at the ground again as she ran her hand along the mantle of the fireplace.

“Good.” She hesitated. “…he… is… happy about this.” She gestured at them vaguely. “He… said he wants me to have a living family to…”

“And he let me see my father,” she said very quietly.

“He… didn’t ask if I wanted to be. He just said I was,” she said hesitantly. “But… I don’t mind. I… think he’ll protect us all if I do.”

“He did.” She shrugged, embarrassed. “I… I’m not crazy. I know what I saw. It was him.”

“I’m not sure.” Her voice was very quiet, and she had to grab the lining of her pockets to resist the urge to pull her hands back out to dig ...

“Right.” She nodded, forcing herself to take a deep breath. “I’m…” she glanced up hesitantly, trying to gauge her reaction. “A… herald… for Haelar… he came to talk to me.”

“Sorry.” Her eyes stung with unshed tears and she buried her hands in her pockets, chest tight. She felt in trouble. How was she supposed to put her hands down? ...

She flinched. “Sorry.” She clasped her hand over the small scab she’d created, hiding it from view.