Read Online Warcry by Elizabeth Vaughan - Free Book Online

face to look at him. “Goddess, Lady of the Moon and Stars, thank you, thank you. Oh, my son, I thought I’d never see you again.”
    “I’m home, Mama,” Heath whispered. “And Lara will be here tomorrow.” He hugged her tight, then eased up, letting her get her breath. “Healthy, happy, and as big as a cow.”
    “Heath!” Anna stepped back, wiping her eyes. “You best not have said that to her!”
    “No.” Heath grinned at his mother. “But you’ll agree.”
    “No, no.” Anna shook her head. “You never say that to a pregnant lady. The very idea—”
    She stopped in mid-sentence and stiffened, her eyes going over Heath’s shoulder. “What’s she doing here?”

    OTHUR GAVE ATIRA QUITE A BIT OF CREDIT. SHE only snarled and put her hand on her dagger hilt. Far better than he expected.
    “You have a lot of nerve, showing your face here after luring my son off, chasing after you like a dog chases after a bitch—”
    Othur moved, then, to take his wife by the shoulders. “Anna, that’s enough. You must return to the kitchens. The man that followed you here will leave with you. That will clear the way for Heath to return to Lara with our warning.”
    Anna’s glare was hot, but Othur had years of experience dealing with it. He just turned her toward the door. “Come, my love. Heath will be here officially tomorrow. That’s time enough for this conversation.”
    “I’ll go with Anna,” Eln said. “Escort her to the kitchen, get some more medicines.”
    “And no doubt eat your own meal,” Othur grumbled.
    “A Master Healer needs to keep up his strength,” Eln agreed. “Come, Anna.”
    “Very well,” Anna sniffed.
    Eln and Anna slipped through the door together—Anna still weeping, Eln offering quiet reassurances as to Othur’s health.
    Othur pulled Heath and Atira over to the hearth and lowered his voice. “Time for you both to go. Make sure that Lara makes a big impression during her entrance tomorrow.”
    “I think she planned on it,” Heath said.
    Othur nodded. “I will make a miraculous recovery a day or two after her return—attributed to Eln’s amazing healing powers, of course. Or Lara’s.”
    He reached for Atira’s hand. “You’ll forgive my ladywife? She loves Heath, and it may take time for her to adjust to this idea.”
    “Idea?” Atira looked confused. “Idea of what?”
    “Ah.” Othur glanced back between the two of them. “Well, that will wait as well. Best be on your way.”
    Atira went to blow out the candles, leaving only the fire in the hearth to light the room. Othur reached to give Heath a hug at the same time his son reached out for him. He gave thanks to the gods at his son’s return, as those strong arms held him close.
    “Go, go,” Othur said, stepping back into the shadows behind the door.
    With that, they were gone, closing the door behind them.
    Othur sighed, then picked up the tray that Anna had brought and went over to the fire. He sat, replacing the blanket so that he looked the proper invalid, and took up the bowl of broth. It tasted fine; for all of her sharp tongue, his Anna was an excellent cook.
    Othur settled into the chair with a sigh of pleasure. Heath had returned from the Plains, and he looked fit and healthy. Lara would be back tomorrow, and that was cause for joy, and not just because she bore a babe. She and her Warlord would deal with the governance of Xy, with Othur in the background where he belonged.
    Othur grimaced as he contemplated the amount of work that would be waiting for him. But Heath had been trained in a Seneschal’s duties; perhaps he could take over some of the tasks. Captain of the Castle Guard would be a good start.
    Maybe he could start to recover tomorrow, and at least call for real food again. He was fairly sure he could eat a haunch all by himself, and a few loaves of Anna’s good bread.
    Provided her bread was good. Anna’s cooking tended to sour when she was unhappy, and she was not happy about