Chapter 409: Brave Heart

RETH

Hours later, after the sky had brightened from gray, to pink, to yellow, Reth walked out of the forest into the training grounds that were packed with every guard, scout, tracker, and fighter that wasn't already on duty. Behryn stood at one end of the field talking to the fist leaders, and Tobe at the end where Reth entered, briefing birds and scouts.

They caught eyes as Reth passed, and Tobe ducked his head in acknowledgement. On the way across the field to Behryn, Reth also saw Tarkyn, the young guard he'd selected for Elia's guard, and for a moment his breath stopped.

The young male saluted, his face somber and eyes sad. But he'd filled out in the months since Reth had evaluated him… his muscles bigger and more defined. That wasn't uncommon among the Anima. What surprised Reth was the sense of steadiness around the young man. The singularity of purpose with which he focused himself on the task at hand.