Sera's Pov
I had been sitting in the hallway outside my father's room for most of an hour.
He was sleeping now, finally, the medic having given him something to help his body settle into rest rather than the half-watchful state he had drifted in and out of since we got him into the bed. I had moved to the chair just outside his door because the room itself had felt too small for whatever I was carrying, and the hallway gave me space to breathe without leaving him entirely.
I heard Riven before I saw him. I had learned the particular weight of his footsteps weeks ago, the specific quality of how he moved through the lodge, and I did not need to look up to know who was coming.
He sat down in the chair beside mine without saying anything first. No how is he, no how are you, none of the so
