Tap! Tap! Splah!
Footsteps splashed through puddles in the alley.
"Mother?"
Vivienne's head jerked up. Through her tears, she saw Kelard standing at the alley's entrance. He looked disoriented, half-awake, his dark hair plastered to his forehead by rain.
"Mother!" His voice sharpened with alarm.
He ran to her, dropping to his knees in the filth beside her. His hands found her shoulders, gripping tight.
"What happened? Why are you like this?" His eyes searched her face, the tears, the devastation written there. "Who did this to you? Did someone hurt you?"
Vivienne shook her head, unable to speak. Her throat was raw from sobbing.
"Talk to me!" Kelard's voice cracked. His hands moved to cup her face, forcing her to look at him. "Please, Mother. What's wrong? Why did you leave the carriage?"
She tried to form words. Tried to explain. But how could she tell him?
"I..." Her voice came out broken, barely a whisper.
Then she closed her mouth again.
