Wielder of Tiren (The Raven Chronicles Book 3) Read Free Page B

voice.
                  Liam turned his head and looked at her. Slowly, he drew her back into his arms. “Who was it, Mom? I need to know.”
                  “So do I.” Hugh’s deep voice echoed Liam’s words.
                  Arwenna took a deep breath and moved from Liam. Absently wiping at her tears with one hand, she leaned against the table behind her. Y’Dürkie and Hugh stood next to each other, each clearly waiting for her to answer.
                  “It was Senyan. He came up behind Joss right after the transfer of power to Krilln took place.” She paused, looking up at Liam. “And then he threatened to come after you and Sera.”
                  Y’Dürkie clenched her jaws together. “I cannot leave the Clan vithout a leader. Hugh, I vill give one of the Council power vhile ve are gone. Ve leave at dawn.”
    * * * * *
                  Arwenna watched the fire burning in the fireplace. Her room was warm, yes. But not enough to chase away the chill in her heart. Outside, the sound of the entire Stronghold gathering to give Joss a hero’s sending made her stomach tighten into knots. She’d seen it before, when Y’Dürkie’s grandmother D’Mitta had died. That they would honor his memory like this touched her deeply. But the grief was still too raw for her to participate.
                  Emotionally, she was spent. After she told Liam, the questions began. So many of them. She’d answered them all. Especially Liam’s. He deserved to know not just that his father was dead, but what had happened all those years in the past that made Senyan want him dead. And to hurt her so much. Some of the stories he’d heard before, but not all the details. And he took some without blinking, even though she knew she’d not told them before. Had Joss told him? Was that one of the things he’d kept from her? She’d pushed the questions from her mind at the time.
                  Eventually, the interrogation stopped. Liam slumbered in the bedroom. But Arwenna couldn’t sleep. She hadn’t since Joss’ death, unless her body insisted on it. Instead, she lay on the couch, watching the flames dance.
                  The now familiar vision of his marker, still unblemished, swam into her vision. A few leaves covered it now. Did the tree mourn his passing as well? Arwenna closed her gray eyes, hoping sleep would come. She so needed it now. Telling Liam was one thing, but Sera would be harder. There had always been a special bond between Joss and their daughter.
                  The grave lay there, moonlight casting a peaceful glow over the marble. A shadow moved. It spoke.
                  “Are you comfortable, Joss? With the worms starting to eat away at that shroud around you?” Senyan’s voice was unmistakable.
                  Arwenna felt her body jerking, but she was bound tight by some unseen bands. Her voice silent as she tried to scream. But she could feel the tears coursing down her cheeks.
                  The hooded figure knelt beside Joss’ grave, a single outstretched hand hovered above the stone. “I’m not done with you yet. You still have a task, and I will make sure you complete it. I wonder how your wife will react when she finds out you were the one to turn Sera into what I was.”
                  A chill wind blew past, stirring up the few fallen leaves on the ground. With a grating noise, the massive slab covering Joss’ body began to slide.
                  “Mom! Wake up!” Liam’s voice penetrated Arwenna’s mind. Someone was shaking her. Her mind snapped back into reality as her eyes flew open.
                  Liam knelt in front of her, his hair tousled as if roused from sleep. “Are you okay? You were screaming in your sleep.” His deep voice helped her focus.
                  She drew