The night had been long, the night before the longest in her life. Pashen was bone-weary, sweaty and smelled like smoke. She pushed heavy, damp hair off her forehead, inadvertently leaving a streak of soot on her grimy face as she surveyed the damage. The fire was out for the most part, Loki was keeping his eye on a hot spot. He and the others looked as spent and dirty as she.

The fire troubled Pashen, something didn’t seem right about it and a few spells later revealed that it had been deliberately set. Four hooded individuals, one a spellcaster had used accelerants and magic to make sure they did a thorough job, the place they chose was a thicket so overgrown with bramble that rabbits had a hard time moving through the tangled, prickly mess. The thicket was no more, a charred section of ground, smoking in places was all that remained.

She’d think about why later, right now she was about to pass out. Pashen would find out what Lord Starsunder knew that she didn’t, discover the answers to the questions that he and Drakaina brought up. That was the second time she left the man abruptly. Thayne..

“Aye, lass, ye be getting home to yer husband, I will keep me eyes open this morn.” Loki read her easily and Pashen flashed her son a grateful smile.

The dawn was approaching quickly and Pashen desired no more than to return home, bathe then fall asleep with Thayne’s arms wrapped tightly around her for a couple of hours. She would ask him about that night, though she didn’t want to bring it up it was he she should be talking to, not some handsy, peacock of an elf. Her life had been a whirlwind since coming to dressed like a harlot in the heart of Haven. A cry from her children and brought her home, still stunned and weak from awakening then sent her to Thayne’s side. She’d seen him die that night, something she’ll never forget. A shudder traveled through her, Loki, sensitive to her moods pushed her in the small of the back, “Ye go, woman, or I’ll port you there meself!”

A golden glimmer traveled over the surface of her steely gray eyes just before she disappeared.