He hasn't seen her since they crossed paths on the battlefield. He knows better than most how well she can handle herself in combat, but even she could have been overwhelmed by those numbers. There had been no word when he checked in with Commander Raubahn, but the Doman unit had not yet returned and his duties to his troops came first.
His second-in-command eyes him and sighs, then shoos him back toward the command center to look for her. He shoots her a look that is both apologetic and grateful. He'll have to come up with a way to repay them later.
His steps quicken as he weaves his way through the encampment. The soldiers' gossip catches his ear: that another Scion has fallen. That Lord Hien himself carried her to the healers' tent.
It's all he can do not to sprint by the time he reaches the section of camp that houses the command pavilion. Raubahn sees him and jerks his head toward the woman standing alone off to the side. He breathes a sigh of relief and nods his thanks to the commander.
It's her.
Her hands are clenched into tight fists at her sides. He can see the slight trembling of her arms even from where he stands.
He makes sure his steps are audible as he approaches her, but he's still within a yalm before she turns. Her mask is an ilm away from cracking, and his heart nearly breaks at the sight.
He opens his arms and she collapses into him. Her story makes its way out bit by bit as she falls to pieces in his embrace.
He isn't sure how long they stay like that. It takes her a long while to stop crying, and she keeps her face buried against his chest.
She murmurs something he can't quite catch, and he draws back a little so he can see her face.
There's something like resignation in her red-rimmed eyes. He's just begun to form a question when she pushes away from him.
He's shocked into stillness for a beat.
Something is wrong.
He takes half a step forward, only to find her weapon pointed at his face.
"Stay back!" There's desperation in her voice, and she won't meet his eyes.
He tries to reason with her. Whatever it is that's bothering her, surely they can find an answer.
She merely shakes her head as the aether of a teleportation spell swirls around her. He takes another step forward but it's too late.
She's gone.