My feeble walls are closing in

The news the boy was alright brought a sigh of relief from the woman’s lips. She didn’t want to hurt others like that… not ones so young. Not that the boy was a child, per se, but he was still an age that Bells saw as too tender to have been in a real fight. She got quiet again, listening to what Acere had to say next.

Post-traumatic stress. Her brow furrowed, knitting together in confusion. It was a term she had never heard before… but she didn’t doubt that Acere was right. He knew more than she did about things… especially here in Boreas. The world was confusing and things she should have known, ways she should have been able to act, were things she was only just now learning. It was frustrating…

“I’m sorry…” She said softly. “That you understand… It’s a blessing and a curse.” She let out a heavier sigh now.

“All I’ve known for so long is fighting… I’m still learning what it is to be around others… without the need to make them bleed.” She had lowered her gaze. “...and I hate it more… because I enjoy fighting… the rush… but this time… I don’t know…” She shook her head.

“It felt wrong. I felt… afraid…” It was bizarre.

She lifted her gaze to Acere.

“The General over me would maim others for disobedience…” She frowned more deeply. “I… I don’t think you are that type of King though…” She shifted uneasily on her paws. “You… aren’t going to make me a slave because of this, are you?” Her voice was quiet, mannerisms more reserved and even child-like than what she bore naturally. Her confidence had diminished like a flame doused with water…

...she wanted to make this right…

...but that knot of fear, of doubt, that Acere might turn on her even now had her worried for her future.

Trust was so hard to build…

Yet, even with that fear, she kept where she was as she thought of Sparhawk’s words.

She had to push through this… even if it was scary.