it's not by bone but yet by blade
can break the magic that the devil made
He grinned when Magnus met him, greeting him with a warmth Ruan hadn't been entirely certain was mutual. Friendship was still a new thing for him, it felt like, but he felt the confirmation of this one settle in so solidly and ease the tightness in his chest. He returned the shoulder-bump with a chuckle, enjoying the genuine comradery between them.
“Hellfire and magic,” he shot back lightly as he joined him in walking, though the truth soured in his gut, the memory of the fairies betraying them and letting in the Dark God to injure and chase out every last innocent person within. Some were never found again and their losses weighed heavily on him, added to the list of his many failures. It was in the past now though and he didn’t bring it up.
”I have been well. Busy with Tephra and little else.” Ruan nodded as Magnus continued. He understood perfectly. For years after his wife’s.. after his marriage ended, every waking breath was spent on guarding the Taiga and its people with the aid of Aten and Jinju. He was certain Magnus had plenty of his own help too with how great a king he seemed to be, but there would always be times when the leader was doing everything alone while his people rest.
”And you, Ruan? How have you and your family fared?”
He shrugged, looking forward and taking in the beautiful place his friend called home. “The dust has settled in Taiga as well. Jinju is still at my side when she can be, otherwise she is caring for the Taigans from within. I don’t feel comfortable with her venturing out where she could get sick.” Even saying the word seemed to call it back up in himself as well, and his chest pulsed a few times with a stifled cough.
“Sorry,” he apologized with a glance, and continued. “It caught up with me in the field that day. I try to keep apart from the others as much as I can, but it can’t always be avoided. Taiga lacks any healers.” Though he’d try to search for one soon if he can find one, someone that would want to heal the children. Each one he infected would just be more to add to his list of failures and things he’d have to make right. It figured the fairies would not bless the Taiga as other lands had been blessed. They seemed forsaken no matter what they did.
“The family is well, though. As well as we can be. Aten helps in just about everything, and Jinju guards the children when I need to be away. Polaris still does not enjoy when I must leave, and Rian… will get better, I hope. His mother’s absence is hard on him. Lilitha leads now,” he looked over to him to see if he recognized the name. Magnus likely knew the first and only king of Taiga. “She is Romek and Maribel’s adopted daughter. She has a girl of her own now too that she adopted.”
His lips twisted up in a wry smile. Adopting seemed to run in the family, and in the Taigans in general. Even Ainlif had found a child wandering and had taken her in, it seemed.
He didn’t mention his ex-wife. Or his only children by blood.
They were gone.
“And how is your family, Magnus?” Ruan figured the man had had children of his own, new and old, and they’d never really gotten to talk to each other about their families.
and it's not by fire but what's forged in flame
can drown the sorrows of a huntsman's pain
