Chapter 61: Grief and wailing
The next day was one of grief and wailing. From waking in a tower full of tired and depressed guards to walking through a destroyed town, Irwin was glad when he finally finished at Trimdir's. It was probably the first time since the start of the winter that he would be happy to leave the heat of the furnaces for his quiet room.
Trimdir had left early, handing him a card and telling him he wouldn't be back till the next day. He'd not explained where he was going, and Irwin had been too preoccupied to ask. Now that the day was almost over, all he could think of was heading back to his room and reforging one of his cards to rare. He still didn't know exactly which one.
But before that, he had something else he needed to do.
Lamia was sitting with her back against her anvil, as she had for most of the day. Anyone that had approached her had been met with a dull stare. There were again fewer smiths than before, and as Irwin watched the handful that had been there, working, leave, he gritted his teeth. Of the almost two dozen smiths, only seven seemed to still be alive or willing to work.
I hope they are still alive, he thought, as he thought about what he'd heard.
It had become apparent what the Frozir had been doing. They had rushed into houses, killing anything they found, and the funeral house was full, and bodies had been placed outside the walls to freeze.
How can they just… come and slaughter innocents? Irwin thought as he moved towards Lamia and sat down with his back against the wall opposite her.
Lamia didn't speak, just looking at the ground.
Irwin wanted to help, wanted to say something, but he had no idea what to do. One of the smiths had said that Lamia's house had been one of those visited by the Frozir while she was at her uncle's inn. Nobody inside had been left alive. Irwin could only imagine what she must be feeling as he thought about his mother and brother.
I hope they will be fine, he thought.
"I want to become strong," Lamia whispered, snapping him out of his own sadness.
Irwin looked up to see her gaze straight at him. "I… need…" she muttered, tears in her eyes.