Chapter 292: Border guard?
Bronwyn woke as he always did, with a clear mind and an instant grasp of what was happening around him. It was a thing he'd learned long ago when he'd first joined the Rangers. Sleep light, wake fast, and ready. Carla's body was pressed against his, her breathing slow and steady, showing she still slept. Celeste's breathing, much fainter, came from the crib at the back of their room.
It took him a moment to find what had woke him, and when he did his lips curled in a grin. Drum was sneaking through the hallways, heading to Irwin's room his shuffling motions only audible to him because of his enhanced hearing.
He will leave again today, he thought, thinking about Irwin and feeling his smile slip.
He felt conflicted, as he had for weeks- months if he was true to himself. It was obvious to him that Irwin wanted to head out again, and he wouldn't stop him, but he just didn't understand why. He knew the official reason that he had to find out who was actually after them- even agreed with Daubutim, Bron, and the others that it was likely it had something to do with those smiths' abductions, but…
But they could send someone else! Why is Irwin insistent on it being him?
He went over everything that had happened in the months after Irwin returned and couldn't come up with a reason.
"Are you worrying again?" a soft voice whispered in his ear.
Bronwyn turned his eyes to stare into Carla's. He'd been so preoccupied that he hadn't noticed her waking.
"Why does he have to leave?" he whispered back. He was glad he was able to keep the hurt he felt from his voice, but the sympathy in Carla's eyes and the tightening of her arms told him she had picked up on it anyway.
"Scintilla and their children," she said with a faint, sad smile.
Bronwyn wanted to shake his head but held back. He'd thought about that, but with all that Irwin had told them about it and the things he'd managed to get from Greldo…
"Why would he want to?" he asked. "He hasn't seen her in years, and the last time he did, she tricked him and sent him off with a letter after getting what she wanted!"