Chapter 203: The Weight of Silence

The sun began to crest over the snow-capped peaks, painting the morning sky in a pale pink hue. Kellar sat at the dining table finishing his breakfast in silence. The atmosphere in the house felt strange, dense, weighed down by an invisible tension that hung over everyone.

As soon as he finished eating, Maya stood up, tapped his shoulder, and gave him a nod. Kellar got to his feet and followed her toward the back of the house. It was a natural lookout with a direct view of the lake’s crystal-clear waters; since no other homes were built there, it was the ideal spot to speak in privacy.

Maya stopped near the edge, gazing at the mountain’s reflection on the water before turning toward him with concern in her eyes.

"Kellar... I know I am in no position to meddle in your life after everything I’ve done," said Maya. "I know you aren’t the nephew I used to know, and I am the last person who should speak up, but I believe you are making mistakes that could cost you dearly."

"What is it, Aunt?" asked Kellar, folding his arms as the cold morning breeze brushed against his face.

"First, what happened yesterday..." said Maya, letting out a heavy sigh. "We all heard what you said about Krag. None of us had any idea what you were doing behind his back. You need to trust us more. That hurt Mila. As your primary wife, the fact that you don’t trust her causes her pain as a woman. Especially being pregnant, how do you think she feels? Right now we can’t help you let off steam, none of us can have sex with you... All of us feel more like a burden than a blessing, and with you keeping all these secrets, there’s no way for us to feel at ease by your side."

Kellar kept his eyes on his aunt, listening in silence as the woman took a step closer to him.

"And did you even think about Helga?" asked Maya, her hands clenching into fists. "You deceived her. You told us she was our sister. We welcomed her with open hearts... but in the end, it was all part of a plan of yours. It feels like you ripped a sister away from us; now we don’t know how to treat her. Is she important to you? Or is she just another transaction you made to maintain control?"

Maya paused, locking eyes with Kellar with a firmness she rarely displayed.

"I know a man must be ruthless, especially when the world is stacked against him," said Maya. "But that is not something we can accept inside this home."

"Do you think I enjoy keeping these secrets, Aunt?" asked Kellar, turning to face her. "Since the day I took command of this clan, I don’t judge any decision I make by how comfortable it feels, but by whether it keeps us alive tomorrow. If I had told Mila or the others what Krag’s mission entailed, doubt and grief would have been laid bare for everyone to see. In this village, any crack in the leadership is perceived as weakness by the warriors and our enemies alike."

Maya attempted to interject, but Kellar raised a hand, requesting room to finish.

"Mila is my primary wife and the mother of my unborn child; I don’t keep her at arm’s length out of a lack of affection or trust in her loyalty, but to shield her from the shadows I must walk through alone," said Kellar, gesturing toward the horizon. "And regarding Helga... it wasn’t just a transaction to maintain control. She needed a reason to keep moving forward, a purpose greater than the guilt consuming her. If Krag’s truth had been revealed to her abruptly, she would have broken. I had to shape things so she could embrace her role within this family and the tribe before despair swallowed her whole."

Maya’s brow furrowed, though the tension in her shoulders began to give way at her nephew’s words.

"I know, Aunt... it was my mistake," admitted Kellar, letting out a long breath as his posture softened. "I still live as if I were back in that old world. Over there, everyone is an individualist, and keeping up a hardened front is the norm. I want to change, I want to adapt, but I’ve never found myself in a position like this before. Ever since I realized how vast, how huge this world truly is, I’ve been afraid. I wanted to seal every gap, eliminate every weakness. Krag’s mission is to be my eyes and ears. Right now, he is out there moving between other villages. He will return, he will bring people, and he will expand this empire, but he will operate as my shadow—someone who can hear what I cannot hear, see what I cannot see, and uncover every threat lurking in the dark."

Kellar paused, looking down at his hands before meeting Maya’s gaze once more.

"His duty is so critical that, if he wanted to, he could destroy me and cut my throat. That is why, even when his request was for me to give a child to his wife, I accepted. I know that for a strong, proud warrior like him, sharing what belongs to him is an act of absolute loyalty rather than a mere transaction. I offered him my neck, and in return, he entrusted me with the thing he holds most precious in this life."

"I will learn to balance that line, Aunt..." added Kellar, turning back toward the house. "I need you to look after the home, Mila, and Helga while I am away."

Maya stepped forward, taking Kellar’s face between her warm palms to make him look at her. The softness in her touch carried a sense of comfort, but her eyes held a new resolve. Gone was the naive woman from their early days; through everything they had endured, Maya had matured into a perceptive pillar of their home. She understood that beyond their walls, numerous enemies dressed in the guise of loyalty wanted Kellar dead. She had learned to look past sweet words to protect her nephew... her man.

"You are not alone in this, Kellar," whispered Maya, her thumb brushing his cheek. "You don’t have to carry the weight of every shadow by yourself. We are here for you. If you need eyes and ears within these walls, we will be them. I will make sure that no enemy, hidden or open, ever steps foot inside your home while you are away."

She gave him a reassuring smile, her gaze softening.

"Go handle the expedition," said Maya. "I will take care of Mila, Helga, and our home. When you return, we will talk properly."

Kellar took a breath, feeling a weight lift from his chest as he nodded, placing his hand over hers. Drawing her close, he captured her lips in a deep kiss that made Maya gasp against his mouth. His hand slid down to her waist and cupped her hip, squeezing firmly.

Maya’s breath hitched as a flush crept up her neck, but after a moment, she pushed against his chest to break the kiss.

"Go," whispered Maya, catching her breath with a smile. "We will be waiting for you."

Kellar offered her a quiet nod before turning on his heel and heading toward the fortress gates.