The Invisible Ring

What would Lia say about being called a witchling? What would Thera say about being called the little Black Widow? “She’s—”
    They both tensed when they heard a horse approaching at an easy pace, but they couldn’t see the road from that part of the garden.
    The roan mare whickered a greeting. Minutes later, Lia and Blaed came around the side of the house.
    Jared ground his teeth. “She’s supposed to be resting.”
    “That’s the witchling?” Yarek asked, jumping to his feet. He whistled silently. “Even dressed like that, she’s a lovely woman.”
    Pleased to feel his blood simmering and more than willing to let grief find its release through anger, Jared stood up more slowly. “She’s also the Gray Lady’s granddaughter.”
    Yarek gurgled a bit, but didn’t have time to say anything before Lia and Blaed reached them.
    “Warlord,” Lia said politely, smiling at Yarek. “Jared,” she added cautiously.
    Yarek bowed low, then grinned. “Lady. I hope my nephew’s remembered his manners while he’s been serving you.”
    “Did he have any?” Lia murmured, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
    “Why don’t you just keep pushing yourself until you collapse?” Jared shouted at her. “Watching you crawl in the dirt will certainly make us all feel better.”
    Lia paled.
    “JARED!” Yarek clouted Jared’s shoulder. “You shame your mother to say such a thing!”
    Jared closed his eyes and hunched his shoulders. He stood there, trembling, saying nothing.
    “If you’ll excuse me, Warlord,” Lia whispered.
    As soon as she was out of earshot, Blaed turned on Jared. “Damn it, Jared. What’s wrong with you?”
    Jared glared at Blaed. “What’s wrong with me! What’s wrong with you , bringing her out here?”
    “ I didn’t bring her anywhere . I managed to climb up behind her before she went looking for you .”
    Jared’s hands curled into fists.
    Blaed took a wider stance and braced his feet.
    “Youngsters,” Yarek said firmly. “Enough blood’s been spilled on this land.”
    Jared swayed. He resisted Yarek’s embrace for a moment before giving in and clinging. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m sorry. I’ve been sitting here, becoming incensed because the cousin I still remember as a girl is old enough to have lovers. I lash out at you. I lash out at Lia. Mother Night, will I ever stop lashing out at people who don’t deserve it?”
    “It’s the grieving pain, Jared,” Yarek said softly. “It’s something too big to give in to all at once. I know, boy. I know.”
    Jared stepped back. Took a deep breath. “Blaed—”
    Blaed shook his head. “I understand.” He looked at the garden. “I shouldn’t have let you come without some warning, but I didn’t know how to tell you about this. Any of this.”
    The three men turned and watched Lia enter the greenhouse.
    “I don’t want to leave Thera alone too long,” Blaed said. “She’s still too edgy.” He looked at Yarek. “I could give you a ride back to the village. Jared and Lia can ride double on the gelding.”
    “You can take the gelding,” Jared said.
    “Not if Lia’s staying I can’t,” Blaed replied sourly. “Damn horse caught a whiff of her and has been acting like a stallion who’s caught the scent of the only mare in season.”
    “I appreciate the offer, young Prince.” Yarek squeezed Jared’s shoulder. “Don’t stay too long. The bastards shouldn’t come back, but it would be too easy to get cut off out here.”
    “One thing,” Jared said, drawing Yarek a few feet away. “What . . . What happened to the bodies?”
    Yarek rubbed his chin. “That’s why I said the bastards didn’t win in the end. They hadn’t been interested in the bodies at Wolfs Creek. Just left them there. But they took the time to look for Belarr. I guess they wanted to make sure he was dead. It was after sunset before they came here. I could hear them smashing things while they searched. They came out again, cursing for all they were worth, shouting at each other that they’d find him, and the Healer, too.
    “I waited a while before going inside.
    “Belarr and Reyna were gone, Jared. Just gone. There was that quilt soaked with their blood, but that was all.”
    Jared watched the clouds move slowly across an autumn-blue sky. “Do you believe in the Dark Realm, Uncle Yarek?”
    “The place where the Blood’s dead go before their power fades enough for them to return to the Darkness? Myself, I always thought stories about the demon-dead were just that—stories. Now I’m not so sure. Belarr would have done anything to stop them