Page 19 of A Baron of Bonds
The boy reached up to pet Parvus’s head, his hands barely able to graze the top.
“Ashton!” I heard the call again and spied a figure behind us, running closer across the grass.
“Hello,” I greeted the boy and pet Rauca who came up to lick my arm. “Are you Ashton? Is that your father coming now?”
“That’s my father and this is my lumen,” he replied, squeezing Parvus whose enormous tongue continued to loll out of his mouth.
“Oh, really?” I laughed, rising and rubbing my aching back. “And when did you decide that?”
“When he fell out of the sky with you and I came to see who you were.” He pointed to Rauca. “That one is yours. We can each have one or we…we can share them both.”
“That is generous of you,” I chuckled. “His name is Parvus, and I’m not sure your father will think it’s a good idea.”
I bent down to the boy whose nose was graced with freckles. “I’ll put in a good word, though, with your father,” I whispered and winked.
“Ashton!” His father panted behind me, running past and picking him up swiftly as if he were in danger.
I pulled my hair from my face and wiped my filthy hands on my filthy dress, embarrassed.
I caught his stare as he held his son to his chest and gasped.
“Geyrand?”
At the same time, he shook his head and breathed, “Ash?”
He set his son on the ground and rushed forward, pulling me into his arms. I laughed at the warm embrace of the man I once knew very well.
He rocked us back and forth, his relief rumbling in his chest. “We’ve been looking for you for weeks, Ash.” He pulled my face back as I struggled to subside my tears.
Finally, I was embraced by someone who cared about me. Finally, I was cared for. I had not seen this man in over seven years, and yet, he loved me in some way still.
“I’m sorry—I mean, Karus.” He grinned wide, ignoring my dirty face and dress, but eyeing my white-streaked hair. “It’s going to take some time to get used to this new you.”
“Geyrand…how are you here? Where are we?” I stepped back, still holding his arms. Ashton had ignored our reunion and was attempting to climb onto Parvus’s back. The lumen bent his hind legs in an effort to aid the boy, but he slipped off again with giggles and an encouraging nudge from Rauca.
“The outskirts of Hyrithia to the north. I live nearby with my companion and son. Karus,”—he shook his head again in disbelief—“we’ve all been looking for you. What happened? The Baron?—”
I shook his arms. “You’ve seen Revich?” my voice cracked.
“Yes, but he is not here. We have to get you to the castle. It’s a day’s ride from my home. We’ll stop there.” Geyrand’s face held a concerned smile. “It’s good to see you again. Whatever happened to you…you’re safe now.”
He let go of my arms and picked up his son who had managed to get his middle over Parvus’s back. Holding him on his side by the waist, the boy laughed in delight, kicking his legs behind him.
I stroked Parvus and Rauca in reassurance for myself as much as them. Thunder rolled closer and the first drops of thepromised storm fell. “We can ride the lumens. I promise they’re safe.”
Geyrand looked them over, one eyebrow raised.
“Please, Pa! That one is mine!” Ashton pointed to Parvus who turned in an offer of his back.
I held Ashton’s hand as his father wearily climbed onto the massive wolf and then handed the boy to him. Both father and son’s face lit up with matching delight and matching features, and I laughed seeing my first lover and his child together.
I climbed onto Rauca, patting her and whispering, “Don’t worry, we’ll see Revich soon.”
“Faster, Pravis!” Ashton shouted, digging into the fur at his neck and leaning forward.
I chuckled at the name and asked, “How far are we from your home, Geyrand?”
The rain began to pick up as lightning flashed across the mountains.
