CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR.

(MELIORA'S POV)


It was a month after the prince had left with his bride and everything had been moving perfect for me. I was coming back from training wearily today like always.

There wasn't much sick at the nursery. Only an old grandma who needed ointment about her back pain came earlier.

I had left elder Emma to deal with her and took off to training. As I reached my cabin after the short walk, Martha's voice greeted me unexpectedly.

"Hey, you need to be coming back earlier from training, Liora," she called out in a tone of mild remonstrance as she rose to greet me. "Aren't you afraid of the dark all by yourself out here?"

I couldn't help the wry smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth at her motherly chiding. "It's not even fully dark yet," I pointed out with amusement. "A little night has never given me too many terrors."

Martha simply harrumphed, clearly unconvinced as she plucked something from the folds of her skirt and extended it towards me. "Okay, suit yourself, you stubborn thing. Anyway, I stopped by to hand you this."

Squinting in the rapidly diminishing twilight, I could just make out the sealed letter clutched between her fingertips.


With a slight frown, I accepted the proffered envelope, inspecting the slightly tattered parchment before glancing up in surprise.

"Suzanne wrote us each," Martha explained, gesturing towards her own identical missive. "First one I've gotten from any of the others since they left."

A warm glow blossomed in my chest as I traced the delicate cursive of my name etched across the front in Suzanne's distinctive penmanship. My throat feeling suddenly tight, I nodded.

"Then this will be the first bit of news from any of them that's reached me as well," I replied gratefully, touched by her thoughtfulness.

Martha eyed me keenly for a beat before speaking again, tone shifting to one of mild rebuke. "Well, aren't you going to eat dinner at the pack hall? I haven't seen your face around there much these days."

Flushing slightly, I averted my gaze out towards the shadowed tree line, giving a one-shouldered shrug.


"To be honest, most evenings I come back from training too drained to do much more than snack on some of the fruits and berries I gather along my walk home before dropping off to rest," I admitted.

Martha emitted a low harrumph of exasperation, leveling me with a pointed look that needed no accompanying commentary about the unhealthy habits she no doubt perceived.

"Well, that explains why you're looking so toned up and skinny these days," she observed in a dry tone.

Bristling slightly, I straightened to my full height, fixing her with a flat stare. "I'm not skinny," I retorted. "The training has simply helped hone and define my musculature, which is exactly the intent."

Turning, I gestured for her to follow as I crossed the short distance to my porch where a few basic workout implements lay scattered – a battered punching bag suspended from a low beam, along with a small stack of weights meant for targeted resistance exercises.

"See? I try to supplement the group sessions with solo practice whenever possible," I stated, stepping over and performing a series of brisk jabs against the swinging canvas sack. "That way, I can expedite my progress while burning any excess energy whenever the need arises."

Martha regarded me silently for a beat, clearly taking in my form and level of commitment, before a wry smile played about the corners of her mouth.

"Well aren't you just the dedicated little warrior these days," she teased, a wealth of unspoken pride lingering behind the sarcastic words. "I guess some habits never do change, no matter how much else falls away over time."

Allowing my arms to gradually still, I met her keen stare levelly. "Some things just matter more than others," I replied in an enigmatic murmur.

She held my gaze for another beat before gesturing back towards the heart of the village with a dismissive incline of her head.

"Well, good luck with all that then," she said briskly. "My stomach's rumbling for something a little more substantial than fruits and twigs though, so I'm heading to the hall to eat."


Just as swiftly, he turned away again, prompting me to heave an inward sigh. It had been over a month since that unnerving encounter with Prince Luther, and still I couldn't seem to fully relax my guard or simply exist beneath the radar as I longed.

Scooping up a heaping platter of roasted meats and root vegetables, I followed Martha to claim a relatively isolated spot along one wall, sinking onto the bench with a weary exhalation as the aromas wafted up to greet me.

"So?" I prodded, gesturing towards the folded letter tucked into the folds of Martha's garment. "What did Suzanne write to you about? I can't wait to see what news she has to share."

Swallowing a mouthful, Martha gave an easy shrug, seemingly unbothered by my enthusiasm.

"Oh, the usual sorts of things – how much she misses all of us, that her new pack is simply amazing beyond words," she replied in a tone dancing on the edge of mocking. "I'm sure she wrote pretty much the same to you."

Of course, that had been an overly romantic notion. Martha's pragmatic assessment was far more likely the reality.

"I suppose you're probably right," I conceded with a dejected slump of my shoulders. "Still, it will be nice to hear from her directly, regardless. I can't wait to read it later tonight."

Martha shot me a sidelong look, something unreadable flickering behind her expression as she reached across to grasp my wrist, giving it a brief squeeze.

"You really ought to get out more," she murmured, the words carrying a subtle gravity that felt strangely disconnected from their overt meaning.

Before I could question her peculiar statement, she abruptly straightened and pushed back from the table with a loud screech of wood against the floor.

"Well, I'm stuffed," she announced, dusting off her hands with an air of finality. "Best be heading back before my mate starts looking everywhere for me."

I blinked, taken aback by the abrupt subject change as I, too, levered myself upright. "Oh...well it was nice seeing you again after a while,"

I said, flashing her a tentative smile as she watched me with a look I couldn't quite decipher. And thank you for the letter." I whispered to her and turned on my heels.

"Well, we'd do this often if not for your reluctance in my company. Go shut yourself up in that den of yours." She huffed at me as I took my steps away. I couldn't help but smile. Yes, her sarcasm always made me. Thanks to her.