: A

bowl when I heard it. I looked up, expecting to see children chasing

g for everyone to clear the way. "Get in

e. "What happened?" I called after him. He didn't

ring outside their homes, and questions were being sh

. "Amelia!" she called. "Have you heard anything?" "No. What happened?" "I do

appeared. This time, I recognized the m

ations slowly died. "An enemy force has crossed into our territory. The northern settlement has been

g at once. "Which kingdom?" "How many soldiers?" "Are t

he king has ordered the local guards to gather at the village ha

ing before we married, and although he had spent the last two years living a q

elt too small. I looked around at the table, the

ary things that had occupied my thoughts now seemed unimportant. Th

ound Kael standing outside, already dressed to

om the village hall. The messenger arrived while

d to report to the captain." "That wasn't what I asked." His eyes m

earing that." "Because I was told to report for duty.

. The guards are gathering, and we need to understand how

, another horse passed. Kael glanced toward the window. "I need to

caught his arm. "When will you come back?" He looked down at my hand. "I'l

laced his hands on my shoulders. "I can't promise you I'll be home t

, "But I will do everything I can to return to

if the guards tell you to leave the village, go with the others." "I can take care

h lifted. "There she is." I almost laughed

owed him. For the first time since we had married, I wished I co

time appreciating the ordinary days we had together. But he was only

ls were closing. Parents were calling their children indoor

dy wanted to wait until it was too late to find out. I helped

esitated. "My brother is one of the guards. He says the king is sending more men

ly sending reinforcements to protect the northern se

had left it behind in his hurry. I picked it up and folded it neatly. It was

ead, a young soldier stood outside. "Are you Amelia, wife of Kael?" "Yes

nt. I took it with trembling fingers.

ement north. I may not return tonight. Please stay with the other families if the vi

hest. "Did he tell you anything else?" I asked. "No, madam. I was onl

few lines. There was nothing unusual about the message, nothin

th. The enemy had attacked a settlement. The king was gathering s

be called to serve. Knowing it and

I knew there was a chance he wouldn't return in time to eat it. Before going to bed

closed my eyes, I imagined Kael standing among t

agined him walking through the door, complaining about the food I had saved for him

s. I sat up immediately. They were coming from the

while others led children by the hand. A few guards were moving from house to

word was at his waist, and he wore the expression I knew so well the one he used wh

For a moment, his expression softened when he saw

. "Everyone is outside." "I can

ttlement. The enemy has advanced farther into our territory than we expected." My stomach dro

Soon." "How soon?" "Amelia." "Just tell

traps on his armour. Another was speaking to a guard near the well.

swallowed. "You keep saying that." "Because I

wanted to tell him that the king had enough soldiers an

t. I tightened my grip on his hands. "Then come back as soon as you can." "I will." "You'd b

, ignoring the soldiers waiting nearby and the people moving around us. For those few seconds, I did

my cheek. "Take care of yourself," he said. "You too." H

oked back at me. I raised my hand. He did the same. Then he tu

ared. The bells continued to ring behind me. The w

aited him in the north. But as I returned to our quiet home, I

or him, to keep our home ready for his return, and to comp

ore that moment came. And I had no idea that the w