Chapter 5: The Arrival from Swordfall

Lord Kael Thorne arrived late at night. His presence was not meant to startle the entire household; only Lord Cassian's private quarters were lit. Lord Cassian stood in his study, the lamplight painting his face in a ruddy glow. He took a few steadying breaths, his mind momentarily returning to that day weeks ago when he had sprinted through the courtyard in a panic. But now, with over a fortnight of rest and the knowledge of his niece's safety, his spirit was strong. He was no longer a man out of control.

"How could you bring the boy back here!" he demanded, his voice a low hiss. His gaze settled on the weary figure of his brother, Lord Galen Thorne. "Galen, how could you be so reckless?"

Lord Galen had not slept in days. His face was haggard, his clothes disheveled. He was too exhausted to argue. He only offered a weary, bitter laugh. "How could we hold him back? The moment he learned of the news, he vowed to come. He is Anson's son; he has his father's spirit."

Lord Anson had been a man of few words and iron will. Once he had made up his mind, no one could sway him. He had convinced their father to allow his marriage to a merchant’s daughter, refusing to relent even when the Grand Patriarch resorted to a hunger strike. Lord Anson had simply joined him, matching his resolve with his own.

"When Kael heard that Elara was hurt, he immediately demanded to return. He refused to eat a single meal until he was on the road and a day's journey away from Swordfall," Lord Galen explained.

Lord Cassian looked at his brother, the dark circles beneath his eyes, and understood that Galen's exhaustion was not simply from the journey. They knew little about their eldest brother’s children, having not lived with them since they were infants. It was now apparent that neither of them was an easy child.

"But didn't I send word to you to keep this from him?" Lord Cassian asked.

It had taken no more than a day for Kael to receive the news after Lord Cassian’s own messengers had been dispatched. Everything had happened with a disturbing swiftness. Lord Galen’s bitter smile deepened. "Brother, by the time your message reached me, the boy already knew."

Lord Cassian's expression hardened. Someone had betrayed them. A plain-faced man in the clothes of a retainer stepped forward and bowed. "My Lord, it was I who told the young lord."

The man was in his thirties and seemed unremarkable. Lord Cassian had barely noticed him standing in the shadows, but he now looked at him with newfound caution.

"Valerius," Lord Cassian said, his voice quiet and cold. "I had forgotten you had your men in the escort."

Valerius remained bowed. "My Lord, they are not my men. They were Lord Anson's men."

Valerius had been Lord Anson's personal liegeman, and he was one of the few trusted souls who had stood beside their dying lord as he gave his final commands to his children. He was Lord Anson's man, but not a man of House Thorne. Lord Cassian knew that in the Swordfall Marches, a single word from Valerius held more weight than ten from his brother, Lord Galen. The guards in Elara's escort had sent word to Valerius the moment she went missing, without waiting for the family's formal order.

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"Lord Anson is gone," Valerius said, his tone sincere and unwavering. "Now the young lady and young lord are our true lieges. We could not hide from them what had happened. They would not dare."

Lord Cassian sighed. "I understand. But we did not want to frighten a child when the truth was not yet known."

Valerius straightened. "The young lord is now the head of the house. He can no longer be judged by his age. And it is a matter concerning his sister; if he were to hear the news from another's lips, he would regret it for the rest of his life."

Lord Cassian’s eyes widened in feigned surprise. "Valerius, are you suggesting we would hide something from Kael? We are his family."

Lord Galen, standing nearby, also widened his eyes in a show of shock but did not speak. The atmosphere in the room grew tense, the lamplight casting long, dancing shadows on the floor. A third man stepped forward.

"My Lord, Valerius speaks only of what is natural. He does not accuse anyone."

Lord Cassian looked at the man and sighed, a wave of weariness washing over him. Lord Galen visibly relaxed. With this man's presence, there was no need for him to play a part.

"Lord Yun," Lord Cassian said, his voice filled with both relief and dismay. "Both Swordfall and the Western Reaches cannot afford for you to be absent. And yet you are both here."

Lord Yun Blackwood, the Lord-Warden of the Western Reaches, was the same age as the late Lord Anson. Refined and scholarly, he was a member of the Blackwood's main family, a great house of scholars and poets. Though they did not have the same heroic history as House Thorne, their legacy was just as deep.

"Exactly because both Swordfall and the Western Reaches cannot afford our absence, we had to come," Lord Yun replied. "The young lord and I could not rest until we saw the young lady for ourselves. Kael, especially. He could not focus on his duties. His presence in Swordfall would have been worthless. His return was my decision."

Lord Cassian could question a retainer, but a decision made by a Lord-Warden could not be challenged. He lowered his gaze, his face filled with sorrowful gratitude. "I understand, but the roads are too dangerous. As you know, the political climate is far from stable."

Lord Yun nodded. "I came with them myself. Rest assured, my Lord, the young lady and young lord are our top priority. We have left everything in order in our territories."

"Thank you, my Lord. We are in your debt," Lord Cassian said, his voice heavy with fatigue and appreciation.

"It is only my duty," Lord Yun replied.

The tension in the room receded, replaced by a mixture of sorrow and a newfound joy. Valerius stepped back, his expression returning to that of a humble retainer. The three Thorne brothers shared a quiet glance and a collective sigh. "Now that the siblings are together, perhaps they can finally be at peace."

The yard outside Elara’s chambers, which had been silent and dark for ten nights, suddenly glowed with light. Only two lanterns hung in the hallway, but to the figures who had rushed through the darkness, the light seemed blinding. Mistress Glynnis, Elara’s maid, stood at the courtyard gates, blocking the path of the approaching servants.

"Wait outside," she told them, her gaze passing over the group of people. Before she could properly see them, a small figure flashed past her and sprinted into the courtyard.

The sound of his footsteps echoed through the silence.

Elara stood behind her chamber door. The light from the lanterns danced through the cracks, and she could see the flickering shadows. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

The yard was dark, but the hallway was a bright ribbon of light. Lord Kael Thorne, wrapped in a traveler’s cloak, ran towards her.

"Sister!" he cried out, his voice filled with the innocent, breathless pitch of a ten-year-old child.

How different from the man in her memory. He had come to her in the previous timeline, a tall, imposing figure with a dark cloak and a blood-stained blade, his face hard and rough as he shouted, "Sister!"

Elara opened her arms and held the child who was a head shorter than her.

She had him again. He was alive, whole, and a child of flesh and blood, not a memory of dirt and gore.