Before I can decide, the door swings open, and there she stands—my mother. Her blue eyes widen in shock.
“Cenric?” she whispers, her voice trembling.
Behind her, I catch a glimpse of two little faces peering around her skirts, their eyes—so like my own—wide with curiosity.
“Come back to camp with me.”
The lines across her forehead deepen as she tightens her fingers on the doorframe. “Why?”
“For Praxis. You can’t leave him like that. He deserves more.”
A flicker of shame crosses her face as she drops her gaze, staring down at her feet. “And what about you, Cenric? Do you want me nearby?”
I hesitate, my chest tight with conflicting emotions as I look down at the two little girls still peeking out from behind Rosa’s skirts. “I want my brother to be happy.” I nod toward the girls. “And I want them to be happy too.”
I reach into my cloak, pulling out two sticks of candy I’d bought on impulse in the market. Crouching down, I hold them out to the girls. “Here,” I say, my voice gentler than before. “Would you like these?”
The younger one, barely more than a toddler, looks up at Rosa for permission. At her nod, both girls step forward, small hands reaching for the treats. As they take the candy, I catch a glimpse of Rosa’s face. Tears glisten in her eyes, and for a moment, I see the mother I remember from my childhood. Though, those moments were so rare, I’d almost forgotten about them. They happened before she shut herself away.
I straighten, meeting Rosa’s gaze. “Will you come back with me?”
She glances down at the girls, then back to me. “Yes. We’ll come.”
As I wait for Rosa to gather the children and a few belongings, I let my eyes wander over the cottage’s weathered stones.
My anger and bitterness toward her have been constantcompanions for so long. But now, standing here in the warm morning sun, I know holding onto them serves no purpose. It’s like allowing weeds to flourish and choke out everything.
The thought settles in my chest, heavy yet freeing. Letting go won’t be easy, but I know it’s necessary.
The cottage door creaks open behind me. I turn as Rosa steps out, a pack slung over her shoulder and the girls’ hands clasped in hers. Excitement dances in their eyes as they look up at me.
“Are you ready?” I ask as I take the pack from Rosa.
She squeezes the girls’ hands. “We’re ready.”
The momentwe return to the camp, Praxis rushes forward, enveloping our mother in a tight embrace. Her arms wrap around him, her fingers clutching the back of his surcoat, as if afraid he might disappear.
The two little girls’ wide eyes dart between Praxis and me.
Everly steps from her tent and moves to stand next to me. I don’t reach for her hand—not in front of everyone. Instead, I move close enough to feel her arm against mine. To know she’s near. To know she’s probably proud of me for going and getting Rosa.
Praxis finally releases our mother, then crouches down, opening his arms to the girls. “Come here, little ones.”
The older girl steps forward first, her golden curls bouncingas she moves. She studies Praxis for a moment before allowing herself to be pulled into his embrace. The younger one follows, her thumb stuck firmly in her mouth as she toddles into Praxis’ waiting arms.
It’s a sight I never thought I’d see—Praxis reunited with our mother, embracing sisters we never knew existed.
Rosa’s gaze meets mine over the heads of the children. There’s a question in her eyes, a hesitant hope.
The hurt I’ve carried for so long still simmers beneath the surface, but I push it aside. This moment isn’t about me or my feelings. It’s about family, about new beginnings.
The girls look up at me as I force a smile, trying to soften my usually stern expression. “Welcome to our camp. I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”
Epilogue
Three months later.
The momentmy boots hit the ground in Astarobane, a wave of emotion crashes over me. I’m home. Finally home.
