Guards

“I am the favorite. They know me better, love me more,”  the younger girl said.
Syllea looked at her sister with tears in her eyes, “Papa and Father love me too.” She replied, though her voice was flooded with doubt.
Em laughs at Syl, “Even I know you don’t believe that.”

Nelnardis didn’t go back to sleep. She couldn’t. Not while Thendryt was still out there on his own. She stared across the empty fields around the farm where Bovad and rider had disappeared into the distance. He must have known they wouldn’t go after him until dawn. He knew he would have the entire night for his personal errands.

What a sudden and unexpected turn of events! Even to this moment, as I write these lines, I find it hard to believe what has transpired... He is still alive. Imrachil, the one man to whom I owe everything, even my own existence, is alive. How can it be? My own eyes witnessed his death. Five years ago, when the corsairs came once more for raid and plunder, when I was taken forcefully, enslaved, doomed to be serving in their ships...