Son of Corse (The Raven Chronicles Book 2) by KateMarie Collins Page B

chance to rise above our position.  He did what his duty dictated; though he made it known he wasn’t happy about it.  They grew to love each other, however.  Even after her father died and Lu’Daw had secured his own position among the community, he did not put her aside.  For years, they struggled to have a child.  Many thought Laret was barren.  And Lu’Daw had no end of offers from other women in the village who promised him the son Laret couldn’t give him.”
                  He paused, taking a sip from his tankard.  “There was one woman in particular that Lu’Daw mentioned to me in a letter.  Corrise, I think her name was.  This one pursued him like mad.  There were rumors at the time of a shadowy male figure seen trailing after Laret, though no one was ever to give a decent description of him or to find him and question his motives. About this time, Laret announced she was with child at last.  Lu’Daw remarked in a letter to me that the more vicious women of the village inferred the shadowy figure was the father, not Lu’Daw.  He quickly did what he could to squash the rumors.  For the most part, it worked and the vipers stopped hounding him to put Laret aside.  All, that is, except Corrise.”
                  “Shortly after Lu’Thare was born, Laret fell gravely ill.  Priests of Hauk were called, but many refused to come and treat her.  They claimed an evil had taken her, and that she had turned her back on Hauk.  My wife and I had come, to help with the baby, and stayed for a time.  There was something strange about Laret, to be certain.  The prayers being said seemed to harm her over heal her.”
                  “I woke up late one night to the sounds of hushed voices in the living room.  Lu’Daw was in there, with Corrise.  I couldn’t hear everything, but she insisted she knew someone who could help Laret live.  The voices dropped too low for me to hear, and I went back to bed.  The next morning, Laret was vastly improved. And Corrise was nowhere to be found.”
                  “It was almost nine years before I had any more news from them. The news wasn’t good.  Lu’Daw and Laret had perished in a fire.  Lu’Thare had been found sitting on the ground a few yards away, staring at the fire with a smile on his face.  The priests of Hauk took him in, expecting to hold him until I could come get him.  The whispers in the village said he was responsible, that he was a creature of evil.  The child left on his own one night.”
                  “I did hear at one time of an orphaned elf being taken in by Baron Keriat, who resided a few days from Serenity. By the time I was able to confirm the rumors, however, years had passed and he was no longer there.  Killed during an excursion to eradicate a great evil, I was told.”  He stopped, wearily rubbing at his eyes.
                  Arwenna tried to keep her voice steadier than her hands.  She knew there was a chance for her to fill in some of the gaps of Senyan’s life for his uncle, much as he had just done for her.  Some things, though, must not be spoken of.  “He didn’t die there, Master Mandurin.  He lived, for the most part.  He was brought to the monastery where I resided in Serenity.  One dedicated to Silas.  I tended to him the best I could.” She took a shuddering breath before continuing.  “There were others there, however.  Those who pretended to follow Silas’ teachings but were instead part of the Corrupted of Corse.  They took advantage of your nephew’s state, and my innocence.”
                  Lu’Zaire nodded slowly.  “Aye, it does not surprise me. I do not wish to live my life by wondering what could have been, but could not pass up the opportunity to speak with you when I saw you.  Perhaps, one day, Lu’Thare will be found again and Senyan will be no more.  To me, they are not the same