His awareness of their surroundings came back. It was still pouring rain outside; the howling wind would have masked Anza’s scream. His strained muscles loosened somewhat. The effects of Anza’s liver strengthened and energised him, fortifying his Crux.
Then the enormity of Anza’s sacrifice dawned on him. Gratitude and something else he couldn’t comprehend engulfed him. It was his undoing—his tears flowed.
His bloodied hand picked up hers, and he kissed it with reverence. Every emotion he had inside him, he poured into that kiss. This child-woman in his keeping became his keeper. He was supposed to save her, and yet she became his saviour.
She did not know it, and she probably never would, but she would always own a part of him that no other person in this world ever would.
He unshackle
