WolfeStrike (De Wolfe Pack Generations #2) - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,54

a noise because she shushed me softly and told me that it was okay because he was with Uncle Kieran now. She told me that they were young and strong again, and more than likely off on one of their adventures again. And she was happy, Uncle Blayth. I never understood how she could have been so happy for his passing. I was not happy when I lost Jane, so I never understood that. I still do not understand that.”

By the time he was finished, the tears were starting to come. That strong, silent knight had a well of emotion buried deep, but it came forth when the subject was one that meant something to him. Blayth came to a halt and turned to face him, cupping his face between his two big hands.

“Your loss of Jane was different, Tor,” he said softly. “Mother’s loss of Poppy was joyful because the moment he breathed his last with her, he put his hand into Uncle Kieran’s and they embraced, as brothers who had missed one another deeply. She took comfort in that. But with Jane, she was young and her death was unexpected and tragic. She hadn’t lived a full life. You did not have the joy of having her by your side for years and years. But when she died, did you ever stop to think that she took her last breath and in the next moment, she was in her parents’ embrace? Wouldn’t they be there waiting for her?”

Tor blinked away the tears that threatened. “They would,” he said. “I guess I never really thought of it that way. To be truthful, I try not to think of it at all.”

“Does the thought give you comfort?”

“I suppose it does.”

Blayth dropped his hands. “Then now you understand why Mother was joyful,” he said. “Poppy had lived such a rich, full life, but he had missed Uncle Kieran terribly. Then Uncle Paris joined them four months later, followed by Aunt Jemma. Now they are all together again, waiting for Mother to join them. She’s the last one left of that generation.”

Tor’s eyebrows flickered with distress. “How can you speak of her death without feeling grief to your very bones?”

Blayth smiled. “Simple,” he said. “Poppy will be waiting for her. ’Tis the circle of life, Tor. When you die, Jane will be waiting for you and the two of you will begin a new adventure. Death is nothing to be grieved over, at least in the years to come. Of course, it hurts us when it happens, but that is because we are selfish. We only weep for ourselves. But for those who have died – what a life of great joy they must experience in God’s heavenly kingdom.”

“Do you truly believe that?”

“I do.”

Tor thought on that a moment before taking a deep breath. “I suppose you look at it in a way I have not yet become accustomed to,” he said. “I hope that will come with time.”

Blayth patted him on the cheek. “With time, many things will come,” he said. “You are still young yet. You see, I have already been dead, so there is no great mystery to me.”

Tor broke down into soft laughter. “You have a point,” he said. “But let us put aside this morbid subject. I have some fine Spanish wine I have been saving. Will you share it with me?”

Blayth took him by the arm and began moving towards the hall entry. “Quickly before Ronan catches wind of it. The lad likes his fine drink.”

Arm in arm, the two of them headed into the hall.

The world was right once again.

CHAPTER NINE

“Your hall is always so beautiful and warm,” Isabella said. “Tor is very fortunate to have you both.”

She was speaking to two young women who were fussing over the table on the dais. And fussing and fussing.

They wanted everything to be perfect.

Lenore was the closest and she smiled at Isabella’s praise.

“Thank you,” she said. “Your visits are always welcome, Isabella. I wish you would come more often.”

Isabella smiled in return, watching as Lenore went back to feverishly arranging the food that was on the table as her older sister, Barbara, poured wine from earthenware jars into cut crystal pitchers. Everything had to be right for the pair, who fussed and flitted over every single inch of Blackpool’s keep, apartments, kitchens, and great hall on a regular basis.

It was the domain of The Vipers.

Isabella knew well what the pair were called. Everyone in the family did.