It was rare, but there were moments Oswin could offer quiet, calm support in place of the fiery rage which otherwise stoked deep inside her. As Vita Nova confessed her truth and what she did to protect the life of her unborn child – allowing Koray to mount her even after all the pain she suffered because of him – Oswin reached out and kindly, softly laid her muzzle against Nova’s wither. She lingered there, breathing softly, beginning to gently stroke her sister’s skin with her teeth, just a quiet comfort. Something to remind her to stay here, in the present, and not let those memories entrap her in the past.
This of course did not mean Oswin did not feel rage. Oh no. This birthed a whole slew of anger deep inside her, coursing like fire in her veins. She wanted to confront Koray all over again, beat him into the sand for what he’d made her darling, loving sister face. But those sorts of voiced actions wouldn’t help Nova right here, right now. All Oswin could do was be there. So she did.
Oswin’s gentle strokes stilled as Nova finished reliving the nightmare and the two looked toward their daughters – Klara more than ecstatic to have a playmate nearer to her age she could bounce around and show her favorite bits of the meadow.
“I’ll tell Evren.” Oswin promised. “And I’ll be careful.” There was a small burst of light in her eyes and a twitch of a mischievous smile on her lips, but overall, Oswin meant as she said. As much as she’d love to pummel Koray into the sand for everything he’d done, she wasn’t going to make things worse for Nova or even for Klara.
Yet… in spite of this healing moment between the sisters, a comment Nova said lingered on Oswin’s mind. …like every other stallion in my life, he was useless. She thought of Nephilim, she thought of how it would be a long time before she could see him, and she looked at Nova. It wasn’t fair of her – Nova went out of her way for everyone and no one went out of their way for her.
“Nova…” Oswin said softly, concern filling her eyes, her tone drawn out, clear she was fighting saying it. “Nova… I… have a secret… and I hate to burden you with it, but you may be the only one I can tell.” Oswin hesitated, her eyes heavy on Nova. “I’m not asking anything of you, please know this… before I say anything.” Another pause. She was trying to work through it to say…
“A few years ago Nephilim… Nephilim disappeared from Tinuvel following a wolf attack. His children believe him to be dead…” She trailed off, blinking. “I found him a year later. He’s… not himself, not physically, not emotionally…” Oswin watched Klara bounce happily around her cousin Nyah. “I’ve been visiting him every few months to bring him news of the islands. I’ve been trying to convince him to come home, to tell his children he’s alive… but he won’t listen.”
There was a soft pause of silence. “He’s never done any good for you, I know. He abandoned you. I wouldn’t ask if there was someone else who knew him… I tried to ask Dances, but… Dances has disappeared. But… maybe… when Nyah’s older, you might consider going with me to see him?”
Oswin looked at her sister, quiet plead in her blue eyes. “He’ll be livid I’ve brought you, he doesn’t want anyone to see him… the wolves… they did a number on him… but I owe it to my nieces and my nephew. They should know their father is alive.”
oswin
this is as brave as I know how to be.
I know it’s gonna hurt you, but please… be a little proud of me.