Ascendant by Florian Armas

Author:Florian Armas [Armas, Florian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-03T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18 – Codrin

Cleuny did not look much different when Codrin returned, carrying with him the burden of another failure. At least he was happy to have seen Jara and Vio. In the inner court, carts were lined up against the wall; the provisions Mara ordered had started to arrive in the last few days. And children were playing between them; the servants from Severin had arrived a week ago. Entering the house, Codrin tried to conceal his limp, but the pain was accentuated by the ride. At least he didn’t need help, but he could not hide from Mara’s perceiving eyes when he entered the council room; luckily she was alone. He could not hide the wound on his leg and the wound inside him. She stood up and came to meet him, embracing him, arms laced around his neck.

“Welcome back,” she said in a caring tone, and her words, voice and gesture were a comfort to Codrin.

He pulled her closer, and neither of them spoke for a while. “It’s good to be home,” he finally said.

“There are many things to talk about, but they can wait until dinner. The scouts let us know you were coming, and a bathtub is waiting in your room.”

He felt refreshed after the bath. Food was waiting for him in the antechamber. And Mara. He did not speak while he ate, and she did not try either.

“I can give you the latest news,” she said, while he was chewing the last piece of steak. “We have gathered food for six months. Laurent and Marat were most helpful; they brought more than half of our provisions. Laurent promised to send three more carts in a week; it seems that he was able to take over the east of Severin from Aron quite quickly. Most of it, at least. We still need to cover almost three more months.”

“Deva,” Codrin said, still chewing, his voice muffled. He swallowed, and was finally able to speak properly. “But we will send a courier from Poenari. It doesn’t make sense to gather everything here, only to transport it again. Poenari is closer to Deva. What else has happened here?”

“Nothing. Things are calm. Sava sent word that no one has come to Poenari. It seems to be a place of ghosts.”

“And you?” Codrin gestured at her.

“I am fine too.” Mara smiled, touching her belly, “and growing. Tell me what happened.”

“I failed,” Codrin said with a grimace. “I failed everyone.”

Mara stood up, and came on his side of the table, in front of him, and leaned on it, her hand resting on his shoulder. “You failed in some things; you succeeded in others. Life is like that.”

“Orban’s son tried to rape Vio.”

“Like father like son.” She looked at him, pondering how much she could ask. “Tell me everything.”

“That bitch, Drusila, had a vision about me sneaking Vio out of Arad, and she came to warn Orban. I barely escaped alive.” Codrin massaged his thigh.

“Vio?” Mara risked a difficult question, feeling that Codrin needed to get things off his chest.

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