Moonspear As if you knew who I am, as if you knew my name

Raleska thought of Dacio that night, the split across his wrist and how he had favored it at first. To think that little thing had been his undoing..

She swallowed, feeling sick. Feeling horrified. Feeling weak -- but at least she was feeling while Dacio slept forever in the dirt. Grief snaked its fingers through her composure as she listened to each recount what little they could spare -- first Dirge, then Lyra, and finally, the yearling that the dark healer pointedly seemed to protect.

It was not the first time she had heard such a thing: Dacio had told her too, while he was still alive. Her throat seemed gripped with something impassable. She didn't care about the bastards in the woods -- she cared about Dacio being dead and selfishly, how it was to shape her life..

"I came alone." She whispered, for once appearing incredibly small. "What do I do?" Panic edged into her voice, beset by a desolation that her hopes of rectifying this situation were now dashed forever.