It had been seven days since Varek's death when Aeron returned to Varnmoor. He saw fewer people now, spending most of his time alone either in his house or in the cave with Draco.
Draco had grown a little since Aeron last saw him. But they did not play like before. The dragon no longer gave him the same bright look in his eyes. Aeron knew why, he had left him for too long.
He also had not spoken to his mother, Elarya, about what happened in the royal palace. She knew something great had taken place, that Aeron now knew his father's name and the truth of his family, but she did not press him. She saw the grief in his heart. He was mourning Varek.
The Drenn family, too, carried their own sorrow. Yvarra had fallen ill with grief, while Ronan withdrew into himself. He avoided Aeron and refused to speak to him. Whenever Aeron called out, Ronan ignored him. Each morning, he would disappear into the forest and train with his sword until nightfall.
