Dragon Heartstone > Chapter 23–Morning

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Alric’s muscles protested as he pulled himself into the saddle, the leather creaking beneath him like an old man’s complaint. He turned, casting a final glance back at Northam. What was meant to be a brief stop had stretched to three nights, but not a moment felt wasted. Larah’s transformation sat before him like a small miracle—color had returned to her cheeks, and her laughter came quickly, unencumbered by recent shadows.

He watched her now, trading stories with Ulrich and the other guards. Her smile was infectious, spreading among the men like warm sunlight. Yet, for all her renewed joy, a familiar ache settled into his chest. Britta was far away by now, miles distant and surrounded by danger, in the dubious company of Gall. If only he could see her again, explain the complex web of decisions that led to her marriage to Brecc, and reveal the truth about her mother’s fate. Those explanations burned within him, a weight he longed to set down.

But not today. Perhaps not for a long time.

If Britta ascended to become Queen of Bretagne, their paths might not cross for months. Part of him ached at the thought, but he understood the larger necessity. The country needed stable leadership, and this journey would forge her into the ruler she was meant to become. Leadership was not gifted—it was earned, tempered like steel in the fires of experience.

All things take time, and always on terms of its own choosing.

The words drifted through his mind, a mantra he’d repeated countless times. He caught Ulrich’s eye, and a single nod was enough. “Mount up!” Ulrich’s voice rang out. “We are leaving.”

A sound somewhere between a groan and a whimper erupted from behind. Twisting in his saddle, Alric found Vig looking distinctly unwell. The dwarf’s skin had taken on a sickly yellowish cast, his posture suggesting every movement was an act of pure willpower. Serves you right, Alric thought with a mixture of amusement and sympathy. The tavern’s ale had extracted its toll, and now Vig would pay the price with a day-long ride from Northam to Wolfbern.

The morning air carried a crisp bite, cutting through the lingering warmth of their overnight stay. Their column moved onto the road with the deliberate pace of those who knew long journeys. Ulrich and most of the guards took the lead, with Alric, Larah, and Vig following, the remaining guards forming a protective tail to their small convoy.

Sunlight stretched across the sky, sitting low and to their right. The road ahead unrolled like a tan ribbon, flat and seemingly endless. Despite the long journey awaiting them, Alric found himself embracing the dawn. Its warmth settled over him like a familiar embrace, chasing away the night’s chill and the memories that often haunted his early mornings.

Let all the rest of my days start like this.