The sun rose allowing its golden light to filter through the window. Vanessa was the first to wake up, like always. Soon followed the soft giggles and whispers of love as she woke up Erhen. The brightness of it really surprised him, if this was what heaven was… he didn't want for anything else. Unfortunately for Erhen, there was a call from down the hall. "Dad! I'm hungry!"
Breakfast was soon made, both Erhen and Vanessa helping the other. And all manner of foods came to the table, chocolate chip waffles with a blueberry jam, and some sweet cream on top, bacon, and grits were just some of the items that made it onto the table. And the smell was enough to summon Tyr from his room even before his parents could call out to him.
Once they were seated, Tyr began to speak. "Thank you Larin'dir for the sunshine and mommy and daddy! Please bless this meal!" The prayer completed and they all dug into their breakfast. Eventually Erhen and Tyr turned it into a contest, who could eat the most. Both stuffed their faces, pouring grits into the bowl and acting like total heathens.
"Ahem," a soft and dainty cough interrupted the cacophony of utensils and plates and all sound went quiet. It was quite the sight, seeing both Erhen and Tyr with their cheeks puffed out like chipmunks. A soft laugh came from her lips, and Erhen instantly fell in love with her all over again. He put his plate down and swallowed his food slowly so as not to choke. And of course Tyr followed exactly what his dad did.
—
The light of the sun beat down on the land offering its life giving warmth, the once frozen land was now in the throes of spring.
Standing in the courtyard watching Tyr practice his technique, Erhen's gaze soon turned to the sky. A dust cloud rose in the distance. "Tyr… Vanessa.. Go inside."
Those dust clouds could only mean one thing.
It was a King's Envoy.
The rhythmic clatter of horse hooves on cobblestone filled the courtyard as the Envoy's riders dismounted with practiced precision. Dust still lingered in the air, kicked up by their swift arrival. The young Warden, no older than twenty-five, stepped forward, his posture rigid and polished, a testament to the King's discipline. His uniform gleamed under the morning sun, though the true weight of his mission rested in his hands.
"Lieutenant Erhen Greyfel," the Warden announced, his voice sharp and commanding, slicing through the stillness like a blade. "Step forward and receive your orders."
Erhen's jaw tightened. He adjusted his stance before he strode toward the Warden. Though his face betrayed little, his mind churned with unease. He stopped a few paces away, his shoulders squared.
The Warden drew a small object from a leather satchel strapped to his side. Erhen's breath hitched as the sun glinted off the polished wood—a dagger, its hilt unadorned, the blade inscribed with his orders. It wasn't meant to kill; it was meant to command. The young man held the wooden blade out horizontally, as if offering a sacred relic.
"By Command of His Majesty, King Aldren," the Warden proclaimed, "you are hereby ordered to report to the Thirteenth Legion, Second Platoon..."
Erhen hesitated, his heart pounding like a war drum. Slowly, he extended his hand and fell to a single knee, the weight of responsibility settling into his palm as the dagger was passed to him. He turned it over, the faint etching of words running along the flat of the blade catching his eye. Though the letters were finely carved, their meaning was sharp enough to cut deeper than steel: To Lieutenant Erhen Greyfel—report to the 13th Legion to claim victory over the lands of Embrolin.
His grip tightened on the wooden hilt as he read the words, his stomach churning. 'A campaign against Embrolin,' He thought.
Behind him, Vanessa stood at the edge of the doorway. Tyr peeked out from behind her, his eyes wide with curiosity and unease. They said nothing, but Erhen could feel their gazes like an invisible chain tethering him to the life he had built with them—a life that now stood in danger of unraveling.
"You'll ride with us at dawn, Lieutenant," the Warden said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He stepped back, his eyes briefly flickering toward the family before returning to Erhen. "Prepare yourself."
Erhen nodded stiffly, tucking the wooden dagger into his belt. The engraving felt like a brand against his side, a reminder of the duty he could not escape. Turning to his family, he spoke softly, "Go inside, I'll be there in just a minute."
Vanessa hesitated, her eyes searching for reassurance. Finding none, she reluctantly guided Tyr back inside, leaving Erhen alone with the Envoy.
—
The warm glow of the fire did little to soften the sharp edges of their voices as they echoed through the kitchen. The wooden dagger lay abandoned on the table, an unyielding symbol of what was tearing them apart.
"You're really going to do this?" Vanessa's voice cracked as she stood with her arms crossed, her eyes blazing with anger and fear. "You're just going to walk out that door and leave us behind for what?"
"It's not a choice, Vanessa!" Erhen shot back, his voice rising. He paced the room like a caged animal, the tension in his movements betraying the calm mask he had worn earlier. "You think I want to go? You think I want to leave you and Tyr? I don't have a choice! This is the King's decree!"
"You do have a choice, Erhen! You can stay—you can fight this! The man I married wouldn't blindly march off to war just because some king who doesn't even know his name said so!" Tears streamed down her face now, but her voice was steel.
"Don't you dare question my honor, Vanessa," he growled, turning to face her fully. "You don't understand what's at stake. If I disobey, we lose everything—our home, our safety, our future. Is that what you want for Tyr? To grow up with nothing?"
"What Tyr needs is his father, not a corpse or a coward!" she screamed, slamming her hands down on the table. The dagger rattled against the wood, its inscribed blade catching the flickering firelight. "And don't talk to me about honor when you're willing to abandon your family for a crown that doesn't care if you live or die!"
Erhen froze, her words cutting deeper than any sword. His fists clenched at his sides as he struggled to keep his temper in check. "I'm doing this for our family, Vanessa," he said through gritted teeth. "Don't you see that? If I don't go, they'll come for us and then they'll destroy everything we've worked for."
Vanessa shook her head, her voice breaking. "No, Erhen. If you leave, you'll destroy us. Tyr doesn't need a father who marches off to die for a war he doesn't believe in. He needs you here! I need you here!"
Their voices dropped into a chilling silence, the weight of her words pressing down on them like a storm cloud. From the doorway, a small voice broke through the tension. "Dad, Mom?" Tyr stood there, clutching his wooden sword, his wide eyes filled with confusion and fear and voice filled with sleep. "Why are you yelling?"
Erhen's breath caught in his throat as he turned to his son. His voice softened, but the strain was evident. "Go back to your room, Tyr."
Tyr hesitated, glancing between his parents. "But Dad!"
"I said go to your room boy," Erhen barked, his voice booming. Tyr flinched, his small frame shrinking as he retreated down the hall.
Vanessa glared at Erhen, her voice low and trembling with fury. "You see what you're doing?"
Erhen couldn't and didn't answer, and instead he grabbed the wooden dagger from the table, tucking it into his belt. Without another word, he headed for the door.
"Don't you walk out that door, Erhen Greyfel," Vanessa said, her voice cold and final. Erhen stopped in the doorway, his hand resting on the frame. His heart ached with everything he wanted to say but couldn't find the words until several moments went by.
"I love you, Vanessa. And I love Tyr. I will come back, I promise."
But she didn't respond. She stood there, tears streaming silently down her face as he stepped out into the cold night to prepare to leave in the morning.