Chapter 214: Relief

If you like music while you read, try "Sunrise" by Our Last Night. It's what I was listening to while writing these chapters.

*****

ETAN

Borsche had practically wrestled him to the ground to stop him from running back to the City when they saw the gates open, and just minutes later, shapes that soon clearly became the shapes of Ayleth and Falek on their horses.

He'd waited impatiently the few minutes for them to make it to the bend in the road and the tree cover from any watchers of the City, and he was there, waiting when they turned into the trees.

He vaguely registered a strange tension between Ayleth and Falek, but it was blown from his mind when Ayleth leaped off her mare and ran to him, throwing herself into his chest.

She clung, not crying, nor speaking, simply clutching herself to him, her head buried under his chin and arms tight around him.