Ella saw Miro coming towards her and fell into his embrace, closing her eyes for a moment. She looked over Miro's shoulder and saw Prince Ilathor, looking at her as if seeing her for the first time. Ella remembered Killian's last words as she looked past the prince.
"Look," Ella said, pushing her brother away and pointing, laughing despite herself. "It's Jehral. He has Bartolo with him. And Shani! And…"
71
MIRO released his sister and then turned his head in the direction she pointed. Five figures were walking across the tiny island towards where their group clustered at the base of the Sentinel.
Miro saw the Hazaran first, recognising Jehral from long ago in Sarostar, though he was now covered in blood and walked with a terrible limp.
Supporting Jehral on each side were Shani, the Petryan woman, and a bladesinger. Miro grinned when he saw Bartolo, smiling broadly despite his wounds.
Then Miro saw Rogan Jarvish, whose tall body obscured the woman beside him. Rogan smiled wearily.
And then Miro was running. He didn't remember telling his feet to move, they were simply propelling his body forward. "Amber!" he cried.
Amber held something in her arms, and Miro suddenly drew up short, staring at her in shock.
Amber looked up at Miro, and he could see the trepidation in her eyes. She pulled the soft wool from the bundle in her arms so that he could see the tiny babe she carried.
"Miro," she said, "this is my son."
Miro gazed down at the baby, looking at its clear blue eyes and dimpled chin. The baby held his hand in front of his face and then reached out, as if trying to touch the chin of the warrior who loomed over him.
Miro stared at Amber, and then his eyes returned once more to the baby. The babe's hands were tiny, each little finger represented in detail. Miro reached down with his own hand, and the boy grabbed hold of his finger with surprising strength.
"What's… what's his name?" Miro asked.
He looked up at Amber when she didn't reply, and then he saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. Miro's heart instantly when out to her, and he reached out and pulled her close to him, with the baby held between them.
"He doesn't have a name," Amber said through her tears.
"He's beautiful," Miro said, and he meant it. Here, clean and sweet, with her baby held so naturally to her breast, Amber looked lovelier than ever. "You're beautiful."
Amber's eyes shone through her tears. "He's Igor's," she said. "I never told Igor I was with child."
"Amber, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Do you think…?" Miro was suddenly unsure of himself. "Do you think we could name him together?"
Amber laughed. "Of course we can. I'd like that very much."
"I would too."
"Amber." Ella's arms went around her friend and tears fell from her eyes. "I've missed you so much." Then the baby started crying, and Ella laughed. "He's beautiful."
"The city is secured," Rogan said to Miro. "The desert men like Jehral here," he nodded, "and our soldiers are working well together as we restore order."
Miro locked eyes with Prince Ilathor.
"There's one score I need to settle first," Miro said, frowning at the prince. "No one comes to my city under the guise of a treaty and captures my sister. No one."
Prince Ilathor dropped his hand to rest on the scimitar at his side.
Miro reached around to the hilt of the zenblade on his back.
"Miro, stop," Ella said. "He needed our help to take the Petryan capital. By knocking Petrya out of the war, he enabled you to take back Halaran."
"My prince, listen to me," Jehral said. "It was not our people who took this city; it was those from all over the world. They come from Altura, and Halaran, from Torakon and Loua Louna. It is for no one house to claim victory. We are in their debt."
Prince Ilathor took his hand away from his sword, and after a moment, Miro followed suit. The prince held out his hand, and Miro hesitated, but a moment later, he reached out, and the two men shook.
"There is one more," Rogan said. "All others have either surrendered, or come to our side." He looked pointedly at Dain Barden.
The ruler of the Akari shook his head. "We won't go against the wishes of the houses. It's too hot here. I've already sent the orders. I'm taking my people back north."
"What did you really want?" Miro asked.
Dain Barden shrugged. "We wanted to join the empire. People find our lore repulsive, but it is who we are. No one is harmed except for the dead, and those we send them to fight."
"Provided you keep your lore to yourselves," Rogan said.
"Yes, I'll give you that. Provided we keep our lore to ourselves. The first Emperor, Xenovere the Great they call him, exiled us because of who we are. All we ever wanted was to have our own place in the world."
"Then go back to the north," Amber said, "but this time not to exile."