Arc 6: Chapter 22: The Ghoul King
Before we set out, I tried to convince Hendry to go with Vander’s group.
“I can still fight,” he insisted angrily.
“Your chest is cooked,” I told him. “And Vander needs you more.”
“Then you think I’m useless?” He almost spat. His expression was livid with an anger I recognized. Too often I’d drowned myself in the same for much the same reason.
Anger is easier than grief.
By the manic glint in the lad’s eyes, I suspected he was barely feeling the pain of his wound. He needed a clericon, which I’d already told him. He opened his mouth to argue further, but when he caught my stony expression he snapped it shut and turned away.
“Hen…” Emma stepped toward him before he left and reached out a hand. When he turned wide eyes on her, she flinched. They exchanged no more words, and Hendry walked towards the departing throng without so much as a backward glance. Emma watched him leave with a pained expression on her face.
“He’ll be alright,” I assured her.
She didn’t look at me when she replied. “No he won’t. I just killed his father right in front of him.”
Besides the Storm Knights Lochwine and Ariel, Ser Moonbrand also joined me. The gaunt-faced Karledaler gave me a nod as he took his place.
“It’s good to follow you into battle again, Hewer.”