CH 130: Farewell

It was decided they’d leave by the afternoon. Jasmine’s logic of leaving sooner rather than later held firm against leaving the next morning. Twelve hours could mean one less victim, and they understood that. Still, Claire wanted one last shared meal.

Luckily, the bandits had a stockpile that would last the winter.

That alone brought massive relief to the villagers. They didn’t have to scramble to gather food or barter with what little they had left. It may be dried food and plain grains, but it was more than enough. A makeshift feast was put together.

Claire sat at the head of the table, still not used to this level of praise. It took quite a bit of willpower not to squirm in her seat. She had to remind herself that the praise was different, this wasn’t the praise from her lovers. This was gratitude. Still, it made her cheeks burn all the same.

Daren sat happily in Ursa’s lap, feeding the northerner with glee. The boy had the widest smile, and it was clear how attached he’d become. Ursa did her best to keep him calm, but his voice was clearly the loudest.

Ursa, too, was growing fond of the boy. He was chaotic and loud, yet always smiling. He made sure everyone was having fun, even going out of his way to do so. Ursa would miss the boy and his antics.

Lily and Ana were barely present, at least physically. Their energy from this morning quickly dissipated alongside the lust. The two leaned on each other as they fought to keep their eyes open. They held strong to respect the villagers.

Elsie was off to the side discussing publication with Hailey, while Jasmine was discussing defensive plans with the fighters. It left Claire oddly alone. Everyone around her was in their own little worlds. Her thoughts turned inward, back to the battle.

The conversations around her blurred together before fading out altogether. Flashes of the bandits she killed raced through her mind. Their expressions frozen in their final moments. Her breath caught as the world around her distorted.

She was alone with her thoughts.

Guilt swarmed her. Rational thought was eclipsed by the agony of each woman’s face. The feeling of blood dripping down her hand. That first woman’s body going limp. And lingering questions echoed in her mind.

“Was it all worth it?”

Were the deaths necessary? Could they have been talked to? Could she have saved them too? Did she have to kill?

A hollow sense quickly replaced the warmth of the celebration around her. She was surrounded by laughter and light, yet she felt none of it. Her companions’ faces warped into the bandits’ again, and her heart pounded in her chest.

“Claire?”

Jasmine’s voice called out, sounding so distant despite her proximity. Claire blinked rapidly as the world slowly came back into focus. She could make out words again.

“You look so pale,” Jasmine whispered. Claire didn’t even notice Jasmine’s hand grabbing hers. “Are you alright?”

Claire swallowed hard and gave a slow nod. “I-I think so.”

“Let me guess. Flashback?” Jasmine asked as she studied Claire’s face. Her smile had long since faded. “The women you killed?”

Claire’s shoulders slumped and she nodded again. “Yeah… one second I was smiling, and the next…”

Her voice trailed off after Jasmine squeezed her hand. Jasmine’s grey eyes were serious as she spoke. “I remember those. After my first assassination. It’s guilt. They weren’t your targets. Not your revenge. Not your mission. But you still had to kill them.”

Claire placed her other hand on Jasmine’s. She felt the warmth of Jasmine’s hand as it slowly replaced the hollow feeling throughout her body. “Yeah, something like that… It’s passing.”

Jasmine leaned in close to Claire’s ear. “If you need space, just say so. We can go for a walk, let you get it off your chest.”

Claire glanced at Mara, who was stifling a smirk. Claire looked around, noticing other villagers holding back laughs. It seemed their moment hadn’t gone unnoticed.

That bit of embarrassment helped ground Claire. It overshadowed the hollow feeling within her chest and her smile returned. And with that bit of joy came boldness.

In front of the entire village, uncaring of the gossip, she kissed Jasmine.

The act stunned Jasmine. The kiss made her pale skin redden. Her eyes were widened and her mouth ever so slightly opened.

“Thank you, Jazz,” Claire giggled. “I needed that.”

Jasmine slowly smiled back. She glanced at Ursa, who looked away.

“Ursa was the one to notice,” Jasmine said normally. Then, in a subtle whisper that only Claire and Ursa could hear, she continued. “She deserves a reward too.”

Claire met Ursa’s hesitant eyes. She nodded, agreeing with Jasmine. “Later. For now, let’s enjoy this moment.”

Ursa’s hand drifted to her collar, something she had tucked underneath her coat. She felt the charm hanging off it as warmth rushed through her. She glanced down at Daren, who hadn’t noticed anything.

She pinched the boy’s side, getting his attention. “Give me more of that jerky. It was good.”

Daren giggled, wriggling as Ursa tickled his side. “Ahh! Fine fine. Just stop!”

He reached across the table, scooping up more of the venison. He held it back from Ursa, intending to bargain with the warrior. But Ursa was too quick. She snatched the jerky from the boy’s hand before he could get a word out.

Daren pouted as Ursa held back her laugh. Claire watched the two as she rubbed her thumb against Jasmine’s hand.

“Daren,” Claire whispered. “That’s my name for a boy.”

Jasmine laughed. “I still prefer Luke. But Daren’s a close second.”

“I don’t know,” Claire tilted her head. “Luke sounds like a farmer, not the son of a Goddess’s champion.”

“Nah, I think it’s the perfect name for one,” Jasmine giggled. “Honestly, Daren sounds more like a farmer’s name.”

Ursa shot Jasmine a glare, one that sent a shiver down her spine.

“Okay,” Jasmine giggled. “Maybe your son with Ursa’s can be Daren.”

“Maybe…” Claire whispered back, watching Ursa. “Before this, I would have never guessed Ursa would want kids… But now? I can see she’d be a great mother.”

Ursa paused as her face turned crimson.  Daren used the opportunity to snatch the jerky from her hand and celebrate his victory. Ursa barely reacted as her mind was still reeling.

“Mom!” Daren exclaimed as he tugged on Mara’s sleeve. “Ursa’s face is red again!”

Mara rolled her eyes and picked up her son. She sat him on her lap and restrained the boy. “Leave her alone, Daren.”

She glanced at Claire with another knowing look, then she let out a sigh. She covered Daren’s ears as she spoke. “Can you not? Have to come up with another lie for your warrior’s blushing.”

The three laughed as Ursa tried to hide her face. The warrior’s eyes darted around as the other villagers noticed her blush.

“Fuck off.” Ursa mumbled weakly.

The rest of the celebration flew by. Once dinner wrapped up, the older villagers broke into the liquor barrels. Reyna seemed to have expensive tastes in wine as the villagers began to indulge themselves. A few villagers remained sober to help rein in the inevitable chaos.

Mara and a few others kept the drunk villagers in check as the banquet died down. Lily and Ana had already headed back to the carriage, too tired to keep their eyes open any longer. Elsie helped them back as Jasmine, Ursa, and Claire stayed back to help clean.

Well, mostly.

Claire and Jasmine cleaned. Ursa, meanwhile, found herself buried under children. They were climbing all over the warrior or racing around her. Their parents were too intoxicated to stop them, and the kids knew Ursa would never turn them away.

As the last dishes were cleared and the final bottles corked, Ursa gathered the children and led them toward the stronghold. Several clung tightly to her legs with Adam and Daren in her arms. They knew what this meant, and a few of them were shedding tears. It hadn’t been long, but they had grown so attached to the warrior.

Mara and Claire stood off to the side, silently watching Ursa disappear through the gate with the children in tow.

“You know,” Mara said, breaking the silence. “She scared the shit out of me just a few days ago… yet now, she reminds me of my old dog.”

Claire tilted her head, unsure how to respond.

“Maggy,” Mara added. “Big beast of a dog. Lived long enough to meet Daren and never left his side after that. Slept by his crib every night. Ursa reminds me of her.”

Claire’s laugh escaped her. Mara was quite observant and had picked up on Ursa’s canine instincts. Part of her wanted to clue her in on Ursa’s lycanthropy, but she held back.

“Right?” Claire giggled. “She seems so different from when we first encountered her.”

“Part of me wants to find my old gear…” Mara said warmly. “Join you in your adventure, but… I can no longer hold a sword…”

Claire tilted her head and Mara pulled up her sleeve. A deep scar ran up her right forearm. “Healers patched it back together, but my grip’s weak. I can’t hold a sword anymore.”

“That’s a shame,” Claire muttered. “Could be quite helpful still…”

“Maybe,” Mara said with a laugh. “But I could never leave Daren. And honestly, with the way your party is… let’s just say it’d be hard to travel with a child.”

“Yeah… fair,” Claire said. She didn’t want to explain their gifts either. That’d be a whole other issue. “But if we need a strategist or advisor, I’ll come calling. I have a feeling you’d be good at it.”

“Right,” Mara let out a sigh. “You intend on topling the nobles… We’ll see. I have to make sure Amora survives first.”

At that moment, Jasmine and Ursa stepped out from the stronghold. Jasmine was barely suppressing a grin as they approached.

“Enough heavy talk,” Mara said, turning to Claire. “I wish you good luck, and again, thank you. For everything. Saving us, helping in the aftermath, with the withdrawals… just, promise me two things.”

“Wha-” Claire tried to say, but Mara interrupted her with a hug.

“Survive,” Mara whispered. “Anyway you can. The world needs more women like you and your party. And… please… if you find Samira. Protect her.”

Claire returned the hug, closing her eyes. She felt divine energy stir within her, but she quelled it. She didn’t need her Goddess for this promise.

“I promise.”