Bliath: Shattered by Theresa Caligiuri

and I can explain to you what I am allowed to or, you can keep asking questions and get nowhere.”   He sat down next to her.   “My boy, I am sorry, your life, your fate, was chosen for you before you were even part of this world, I love you, you know I love you like my own flesh, and I would take away any pain you have, but the time has come where I must let go.”  Her voice was pained, Vance took her hands that were resting in the book, and she continued on.  “This war is their war, but we were all drug into it, fate she is a cruel mistress, we all must play our parts.  The night you were placed in my arms changed my life forever.”   Vance interrupted her, “Show me, do that memory thing again and show me!”  As his world was fading out, he could hear Desree apologize. 
    Things were a blur people were running everywhere, he could hear some of them talking, saying things like they will be here soon, what are we going to do, and we need to leave.  Everyone is so panicked.  A woman, in her mid-twenties held him; she was trying to comfort him.  She was telling him things like, mommy is here and he was ok, and daddy would come soon. He had her nose and creamy skin tone.  Desree was walking over to them.  Vance felt the tears on his face now as they were on the younger version of him, even then he knew something was wrong.  That was his mother, the one he tried to remember since Desree told him that he was not really hers’ and seeing her in pain too was almost too much to handle.  He felt love for her, her pain was so clear, and this was a memory, he could not make her feel better.  A man walked up to them, and took Vance from his mother, his eyes were the same his, dark green, with the swirl of light green energy moving in them.  He talked to them, telling them that the army was close, that there was little hope but he would make sure they were safe, and Desree, his mom, and he needed to leave now.  His mother fought with him that he needed to come too.  He kissed Vance’s head, taking a hand and putting it on his cheek, it warmed, sending a tingly feeling through him and whispering something in his ear that he could not make out or remember but he knew it was important.  Telling him he loved him and that he needed to be a good boy for his mother, then placing him back in her arms.  His father embraced them both kissing his mother.  Desree and his father had a brief exchange and then Desree started pulling both the toddler and his mother out the door.  His little form looked at his father and said “bye bye daddy,” like he would see him soon.  They climbed into a carriage; his mother had tears running down her face.  A few minutes later there was a loud explosion and the building they were in was gone.  It was starting.  His mother let out a scream.  She looked at Desree, then handed Vance to her, she told her to keep him safe, that she knew what to do and how to handle things and to go to Thoren.  Leaning forward she whispered in Vance’s little ear like his father had, then told him she loved him and one day he would understand.  Kissing his forehead she left and did not look back.  Vance started to scream for her and was desperately trying to free himself from Desree.  The carriage started to shake and lightening was masked by the explosions going on around them.
    As his head cleared he was still sitting next to Desree in the barn, tears trickling down his face.  Before he could formulate words, Desree spoke in a quiet calm voice, “Before you ask, I made promises, took oaths to protect you, things I could and could not tell you, to keep you safe, they loved you more than you will be able to know until you have your own children.  They knew what they were facing that day, but that doesn’t make it easier on the ones they leave behind.”  
    “That does not explain why we went to Thoren and where her mark went and why.”  Vance was shaking he was upset by what he saw