Risen (54 page)

The horse had no name as of yet.
Sylvie had loved the foal, called him “sweet boy” but never
actually name it, said only that she would “think about
it.”

Smiling, Ravan continued to watch,
content just to observe his son and the colt grow together. Risen
was nearly fourteen now, and Ravan saw in his son, more as the days
went by, something of himself. He was surprised to feel a small
hand slip into his, and turned to see Niveus staring up at
him.

“Niveus, what is it? Is everything
all right?”

His daughter seldom stepped into the
light of day and almost never when the sun shined. Today, the sky
was a brilliant, clear blue.

“Risen named the colt today.” She
peered at her brother and the foal.

“What? Did he, now?” When Niveus
said nothing, he added, “I know he’s struggled with a name. But he
can’t keep calling it ‘horse’ forever, now can he?”

He smiled down at his daughter, but
Niveus only continued to stare at her brother and the beautiful
beast that ran in lazy loops around him.

Ravan leaned down and kissed her on
the fairy wisps of hair that seemed to swirl perpetually wild
around her face. “It was a very personal task for Risen. Did he
tell you what name he chose?”

“No,” she replied curtly, then just
as simply added, “The horse is named Alerion.”

“Alerion? But if he did not tell
you, how do you know this?”

“Alerion,” Niveus repeated the
word. “It was her favorite name. She would have named their son
that one day, if she’d lived.”

Somewhat alarmed, Ravan leaned down
close to his daughter and took her by her shoulders. “Son? What?
Niveus, of whom do you speak?” He was thoroughly perplexed by
her.

“Sylvie.”

“Sylvie?”

“Yes. She told me.”

“Niveus, when did Sylvie tell you
this?” He shook her gently, urgently.

“This morning,” she explained
calmly before turning and walking back toward the castle without
even bidding her father goodbye.

Ravan watched his daughter walk
away, wondered at the mystical complexities that he and Nicolette
had created in this strange, beautiful child. He loved her—loved
her as much as he ever loved anyone, but Niveus was as
incomprehensible as the path of a star. He watched until she
disappeared into the castle then turned to regard his
son.

It’d been a long year and a very sad
time for all of them after Sylvie died. Risen never regretted
chasing after his love, finally bringing her home, but he struggled
greatly with the loss of her. It changed him—changed him in an
eternal way that only such a tragic event could.

Now the boy understood his father
completely, comprehended the expression that sometimes crossed
Ravan’s face, realized why his heart was so imperfect on some
days.

For the longest time Ravan worried
his son would not come around. It broke his heart to see him
sitting for endless, winter days in the dormer of a castle window,
one leg dangling, inviting what may. He knew the feeling, had gone
to that dark place himself several times before.

Nicolette believed they should just
give him time, and Ravan trusted her about this. Curiously, it was
Niveus who reached out to her brother. When he sat, only wishing to
be alone, there she would be, leaning against a wall in the shadows
behind him. She never spoke to him, never invaded his privacy in
that way, only stayed close by. It was enough that Risen knew she
was there.

The winter days came and went, and
little was seen of the young man around the castle grounds.
Eventually, as spring approached and the warm breath of the season
spread over the realm like salve onto a wound, Risen could be seen
stirring, embracing again the ebb and flow of life.

Now, nearly a year after Sylvie’s
death, Risen stopped lunging the yearling colt. Ravan could not
help but be amazed how much his son had grown in the last year. His
voice was deepening even more, and he could see by the way he moved
the warrior he would soon be.

Risen approached his father, smiling
as he led the beautiful creature across the pen. It pranced even
though sleek with sweat on this late summer day. Nipping at the
elbow of its young handler, Sylvie’s horse pulled its nose away at
just the right moment, only to plunge in for another playful stab.
The yearling was a display of mischievous cleverness if ever there
was one, and Risen beamed. He’d grown to love the colt
dearly.

Ravan laughed but couldn’t help
asking as his son approached. “So, have you named this smart, young
fellow yet?”

“I have, Father. Just today. And I
think you will like it.” Risen grinned broadly. “His name
is…

…Alerion.”

THE END

Did you enjoy
RISEN? You can Pre-order NIVEUS
HERE
!

Thank you for reading
RISEN.

If you liked my book, won’t you
please take the time to leave me a review at your favorite
retailer? I wish you to know how sincerely I appreciate
you.

~Sharon Cramer~

Other Books by Sharon
Cramer

THE EXECUTION

THE CERULEAN STAR:
LIBERTY

The Cerulean Star: SARTEK (Coming
Soon)

NIVEUS (Coming Soon)

Just an American Girl (Coming
Soon)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sharon Cramer is the author and
illustrator of the award-winning, three picture book series, Cougar
Cub Tales. She is also the author and illustrator of the Book
of the Year Finalist, children’s picture book, Marlow and the
Monster, and is currently working on a new young adult series
called The Cerulean Star. Sharon’s first novel, The Execution,
was released in February of 2012. RISEN is the sequel. NIVEUS will
be the third book in the series, out in 2015.

Cramer lived throughout the United
States before coming to Washington State. Long settled in the
Pacific Northwest, she says she will stay, “Because I love how
beautiful it is, and the crazy weather patterns lend themselves to
creative writing!”

It is in Spokane, Washington that
she lives and writes. She is married and has three grown
sons.

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Sharon 2014