RETH
They held each other and cried together, and for a moment, when it occurred to him this might be the last time he would ever hold her, Reth felt like he was losing his mind. He reeled, his sight blurring, heart hammering at his ribs until his chest was cracked and bleeding, like the fear of losing her might actually kill him.
His head pounded and he whined his pain.
Elia only clung tighter. What would come of her if he was killed?!
Creator, help us, he prayed. Help us… why would you do this to us?
Then, as had always happened when he pleaded with the Creator, images throughout his life of all the many ways the Eternal plan had taken him into dark forests, only to emerge in ever larger sunny fields and glistening lakes. That somehow silent, somehow comforting voice of love and protection crooned at him that the plan was good—and everything that was to come, painful or not, would be used for his best.
