Chapter 23 - Riposte

Alarick sat in front of Erriene in their room with his hands joined together on his lap.

Erriene crossed his arms, too nervous by the man’s silence.

“Alarick?” he called tentatively, and Alarick narrowed his eyes, blinking hard, a scowl appearing on his face.

Alarick looked tired. Erriene felt a stab of guilt for troubling him right after such a long travel.

“You say he is alive,” Alarick repeated, looking right into his eyes.

He nodded. “Yes.”

“In the mountains.”

Erriene nodded again, one hand messing up his hair, too agitated to stop himself. He hadn’t managed to sleep the whole night.

Alarick seemed paralyzed for a second, almost as if hit by a spell. But his tone changed.

“We will prepare the journey,” Alarick stopped himself, growling a little. “I should have known. I was stupid and mamkka paid the price for all these ye