It took Lorna a moment to realize the sound of screaming was coming from her own lips. Lips still swollen from the kisses she shared with Gareth underneath the falling leaves at Caroline's wedding. Her back was pressed up against the scratchy bark of a tree. In her heart, Lorna knew she didn't love Gareth, but dammit, she wanted to try. Lorna had wished to give herself a chance at loving him. Maybe it could have grown, but now she would never know. They had only just discovered each other's mouths when the horn sounded.
And now he was gone.
Thunder cracked overhead. The sound mingled with stompings of hooves as their forces surged forward at Ender's command. Somewhere in her mind, duty tugged at her. She had a job here. It was to watch over the women behind her, witches whose element of strength was fire much like her own. Lorna knew they would look to her to guide them from atop her horse to how best to aid the men fighting in the field.
Duty be damned.
