Chapter 101

• Alera’s Pov
• The days dragged on like endless winters, each one colder than the last without a single word from him. I tried not to let it eat me alive, but the silence weighed down on my chest like a boulder pressing against my lungs. Was he safe? Was he even thinking of me, of us, of the kingdom? At least a single message, a sign, anything would have eased this restless ache inside me. But nothing came.
• Instead, I buried myself in duties that were never-ending. The welfare of the clan became my shield and my prison all at once. I woke early and retired late, listening to endless reports, solving disputes, and making sure no one’s needs were ignored. Elder Aldric stayed close, guiding me through the council’s affairs while Maya, ever graceful, moved like a shadow at my side, helping me pick up the pieces I could no longer hold on my own.