Free Second Stone by Kelly Walker

on the grounds. There were even fewer guards there now. Hopefully, his mother and father would be safe until his return.
    Torian looked to the tent behind him. He needed to be closer to her, to soak in the comfort that only she could provide. “I’m going to go in and sit a bit with Emariya.” He could feel their worried stares drilling into his back as he walked away.
    Torian’s hand paused momentarily as he reached for the flap of Emariya’s tent. He couldn’t help the worry welling inside him that the next time he went to check on her, he might find that she’d left him for good.
    Ducking to get his height inside the tent, he let out the breath he’d been holding. She lay on her bedroll, sleeping like an angel. In the dim lantern-light, he could just make out her chest moving rhythmically up and down. He took off his cloak and his sword, placing them carefully near the front of the tent. When at last he’d shed his protection, he settled himself near her, hoping that just maybe she could feel his presence and might draw comfort from it.
    Of course, if she were awake, she’d be well within her right to tell him to get out, that she didn’t ever want to look upon him again. He deserved it after the way he’d acted.
    “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I think I understand now.” Torian choked back a sob, swallowing hard. He couldn’t break now. He couldn’t!
    Unable to resist touching her to reassure himself that the flow of life remained alive within her, he clasped her hand. Her long graceful fingers were warm in his. A tiny smile forced its way forward. Warmth was a sign of life; at least she was warm.
    “I said some really stupid things. I was so consumed by thoughts of Terin… Well, the important thing is, I get it, and I’m sorry. You were only thinking of him as your brother and didn’t stop to consider everything. Seems we both made a mistake.”
    Emariya’s still form gave no response. He wasn’t even sure if she could hear him, but it felt good to get it out, regardless.
    “You’ve got to come back to me. I need you,” he whispered, kissing her hand. A heavy tear slipped past his shattered defenses and made its salty way down his cheek.
    Torian tensed as the tent flap opened and Jessa slipped inside.
    ––––––––
    The pain ripped through her, igniting each of her senses in turn.
    Emariya felt it travel along her nerve endings, biting into her all along her spine. The thick scent of smoke invaded her erratic thoughts. Her heart pulsed, thudding in her ears as it reacted to her fear. But what was there to fear now, except that which those left behind must face?
    She’d tried to fight her mother. For a moment, it had seemed that her mother’s hold on her was slipping, and she’d struggled closer to the surface. The most excruciating ecstasy had overcome her when she’d heard Torian’s voice. Then, in an instant, it had all been ripped away. The darkness closed in with a horrifying finality. Even the mist and the simple nothingness were fading away. Her eyes were heavy. Her panicked heart slowed.
    She tasted defeat, bitter on her tongue, as she recalled Jessa’s final words: “I’m sorry Torian. She’s gone…”
    ––––––––
    With a disappointed shake of his head, Torian answered the question in Jessa’s hopeful eyes. No change. “I feel like I’m failing them both.”
    “You aren’t.” Jessa tentatively put her hand on Torian’s shoulder and squeezed.
    “I’m just sitting here, praying she’ll wake, getting no answer. She’s lost to me, yet right in front of my eyes. And all the while, my sister is being taken farther and farther away.”
    “You don’t have the luxury of pitying yourself.”
    He jerked his head up in surprise. Few people dared talk to him like that. Bitterness won out over reason. “And what am I supposed to do, sit here until spring? Go watch as a bystander at my sister’s wedding?
    In her gentle way, Jessa ignored the venom in