Redtail Rise XLI

this wasn't how it was supposed to be.
not at all.
not ever.
ancelin felt sick; he snapped to attention when relic's hard voice addressed lilia; his lip curled and he took a step forward, intending to flashfire once more in this tense moment.
but it passed. the children cried.
lilia, bersekr?
but a glance toward her said this would not be the way she had wanted to earn it. her honor; it mattered more to her than his ever had to him.
he approached the little ones as masque headed off. "hey. it's okay," ancelin said gruffly, trying to reassure them. "they're all gonna go look for your mom."
their mom. his aunt. it felt like the final bit of his blood was gone, and suddenly his own childish tears angrily stung his eyes.