Chapter 43 A Bitter Homecoming
A Bitter Homecoming
It had taken Riona three hard days of riding to reach Cailleach’s Keep.
Unlike the commanders or elders, who could use magic to propel their horses faster, never needing to stop for food, water, or rest, her journey was slow and grueling.
The steady rhythm of her horse’s hooves echoed through the quiet wilderness.
As she approached the northern lands, the transformation into winter was unmistakable.
Winter always arrived earlier here, in the sacred lands of the goddess Cailleach.
Though it was only October, the trees were nearly bare, their skeletal branches stretching toward the grey sky.
A few stubborn leaves clung to the remnants of autumn, but the grass had already dulled, and the once vibrant colors of the land faded into muted tones.
Riona entered the city of Frostfire, its name comes from the eternal flame blazing within the mountainside overlooking the town.
This flame was said to be a divine gift from the goddess Cailleach herself, and a grand temple and statue had been built around it to honor her.
Taking a long breath, Riona felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her it as it had been years since she had last stood here.
The city had an elegance about it, a beauty that was almost impossible to capture in words.
Frostfire was nestled in a valley between two towering mountains, its buildings shimmering with diamonds that caught even the faintest light and transformed it into a cascade of brilliance.
Delicate silver embroidery adorned the exteriors of the structures, like intricate frost patterns on windowpanes.
At the heart of the city stood the grand town hall, the centerpiece of Frostfire’s life.
It was a place of gathering, hosting meetings, banquets, and lessons, as well as sacred marriages performed under the watchful gaze of Cailleach.
And yet, for all its beauty, it was a place Riona, years ago, couldn’t wait to leave.
As a child, she had craved the warmth of the sun on her skin, the vibrant meadows in bloom, and the promise of spring and summer lasting longer than the harsh northern winters.
Her parents had often visited Lumora for the Festival of light, taking her with them often.
The moment she first saw Lumora, she dreamed of one day living there but that wasn’t the only reason she left.
Her father was a cold man, harsh and unyielding.
He rarely minced words and even more rarely showed affection unless public eyes were upon them.
She knew those displays of affection were all for show, a performance to maintain an image.
Behind closed doors, he was a man of ruthless and relentless discipline, the kind that was met with fists more times than words, but the words he did speak were venomous.
The way his quiet judgment weighed upon her, he was always expecting more, always demanding more.
The moment she saw her chance, she took it and never looked back.
These days no one outside of Frostfire knew who she really was, Riona had refused to use her family name when she arrived in Lumora.
Instead, she adopted a different one, far removed from the shadow of her father’s legacy.
She wanted to be seen for her own worth, not as the daughter of the Commander General Byrne.