His expression ticked with a quick glance at me. "That explosion came from the mountains. Either the sparring has begun, or someone intended to ambush the leader's conference."
"Who…would do that?" I questioned between coughs. Something in the smoke was scratching my throat.
My father's eyes narrowed when realization it. "Use your sash to cover your mouth and nose. There is iron in the air."
Panicked, my eyes widening, I followed my father's command, unraveling the sash around my waist and wrapping it around the lower half of my face many times. However, the iron I'd already inhaled waged a war in my lungs, and I battled for a mere breath.
I awaited another command from my father, but he made no move to protect himself as he'd instructed me to do. My voice strained to ask, "What about you—"
Hastily, my father exited the carriage, and I intended to follow, but he stopped me. "If this is an ambush, it could be dangerous. I smell blood," he warned.
I wrote this chapter months ago, but I was brought to tears when I finally edited and re-read it. Yes, I'm sobbing with you guys :(. And yes, we all might need therapy after this chapter...but keep reading and you'll see just how worth it it was to persevere through the heartbreak.