chapter 16
I brushed myself off. Edward said we had to make a grand entrance, so we'd get the necessary attention. We'd gotten their attention, all right. Then, when our army of Gryphons, Dragons, Unicorns, Centaurs, Werewolves, Greater and Lesser Demons and Wyverns crawled out of the hole around us, and kept crawling out of the hole to line up with us, Edward and I both smiled. Now, things would come even, if the enemy still wanted to fight.
"Did you think you'd be the only ones to travel the timeline?" I glared at the Copper Ra'Ak in charge. He'd appeared before me, ready for my challenge. "Where's that coward, Naldill?" I added, contempt in my voice.
I knew the Saa Thalarr were closing in at our backs, as were Ry's warlocks, the High Demons under Jayd's command, Lendill and his remaining elves, plus Glendes Grey and what remained of his wizards. In short, the allies we had. The Larentii, too, were making their presence known. The Wise Ones had asked them to wait until the last possible moment. They knew, as Edward and I did, that they did not need to violate their rules of noninterference.
"What are you?" The Copper Ra'Ak rogue asked disdainfully.
"Your death," I said. "Kifirin has a new supervisor and Renegar, Edward and I have joined the Nameless Ones," I added. "Kifirin no longer holds sway over any of you. He may have promised not to interfere, but the new Lord of the Dark Realm has made no such promise. He will come if the rest of us fall. Leave now, swear never to do this again and you will live. Fail to do so and your lives will be forfeit, one way or another."
"I find your threat amusing," the Copper Ra'Ak laughed. I held out a hand and forced him to the ground with power.
"Now, what was that you said?" I asked.
"I will never bow," he began before I separated his particles. It was easy. I let them float away on the wind.
"Now, who among the rest of you, wish to deny my authority?" I asked. The ones that rushed me lifted into the afternoon air, their sparks as insubstantial as smoke.
* * *
"We've removed the Ra'Ak's ability to traverse time, from this point forward," I said, sitting cross-legged on the grass in the middle of the field. A brief skirmish occurred after I'd separated a lot of particles, but somehow, Zendeval had led the answering charge, accompanied by the Saa Thalarr. The battle was over quickly.
"I thought we asked you to keep Reah safe?" Teeg ventured to complain to Edward, who sat beside me, mostly looking like himself except for the black Eagle's wings he wore. Who knew that he'd been destined to become the War Eagle for the Elemaiya? As a Nameless One, this is what he was. My Thifilatha was a Nameless One as well. When I was humanoid, I was High Demon. In Thifilatha, I was a god.
"She is safe. As am I, napping on Avendor as we speak," Edward smiled. "We came back in time to do this. It was our intention all along."
"But the reptanoids," Teeg brushed tears away.
"Bring them," I demanded. This was my fear, that those I loved might be lost. Teeg and Norian brought three crushed lion snakes to me.
"Oh, no," I wept, taking the bodies from them. Chazi, Perzi and Bekzi lay limp and lifeless in my Thifilatha's hands. "Please, no," my tears fell on three mangled and motionless lion snakes.
"Do not fear."
Those around me gasped as she appeared. The shining woman. She held out a hand and the power that came was staggering before white light surrounded us, leaving us momentarily blind.
* * *
Movement in my Thifilatha's hands woke me from my daze. The reptanoid lion snakes were stirring, when they'd been dead before. Tears filled my eyes as all three woke and lifted their heads. I smiled at them, blinking back moisture. They crawled up my Thifilatha's torso, hiding in my hair and peeking out at the others. I laughed because it tickled.
"A part of our debt to Reah is repaid," Belen appeared and bowed to me.
"And it is most appreciated," I bowed in return. Farzi, Nenzi and the other three were crawling upward now, to join their brothers. I smiled at all of them. Nenzi, brave soul that he was, took himself to the top of my head and lifted up, looking about. That caused quite a few chuckles around us.
"My son is a Nameless One?" Pheligar appeared before us.
"Yes. And most deservedly so," Belen said. "As are Edward and Reah. Reah has moved to the Light and no longer belongs to the Dark Realm. Kifirin has taken a lesser spot—a new Lord of the Dark Realm has come. He now presides over the High Demon world." Belen gave Jayd a pointed look as he spoke. "You will bow to him when he makes his presence known, and those who fought beside Reah and Edward this day will live again on their own worlds. It is fitting." Belen disappeared.
"My love, are you ready?" Edward smiled at me.
"I think so," I agreed. "Farzi, Nenzi, Darzi, Chazi, Perzi, Yanzi, Bekzi and Hirzi, do you wish to travel with me or stay here?"
Nenzi slid down my Thifilatha's nose and plopped naked into my hand. "We go," he grinned.
* * *
"I don't believe this." Those were Teeg's words and they woke me from a sound sleep. My head was in Edward's lap and he stroked hair away from my face. Kevis, who'd appeared with the others, stared at me.
"What the hell is going on?" Ry demanded. Astralan didn't wait to ask questions; he came, knelt in front of me and kissed me. Very nicely, too.
"I said that those things weren't the only ones who could travel the timeline," I yawned, sitting up. "Edward stayed here with me, because I can't do anything like this," I patted Garwin Wyatt. "But a year from now? Different story."
"Unbelievable," Teeg shook his head. Farzi and Nenzi appeared from nothing. I knew their brothers were now safely on Campiaa. Both my reptanoids rushed toward us and Edward had to move over so they could climb into the swing with me.
"We need to take a trip tomorrow," I said, "since I'm rested now."
"So, what does this mean? We'll be smited, or smitten or smote, if we don't do what you tell us to?" Tory appeared, arms crossed angrily over his chest.
"Tory, it doesn't mean any of those things. Neither Edward nor I will have any control over anything you do. It's only in our other shapes that we act as gods. While I look like this, I'm what I've always been. That's who will interact with my mates. Ry wants to marry me as soon as Garwin Wyatt is born. If anybody wants to be married to me, he can show up at that ceremony. If they don't, or if they want to dissolve what we already have, then stay away. It's as simple as that."
"Do I still have a hill to climb if I show up?"
"Tory, what do you think? Am I still hurt? Yes. I might understand things a little better now, but that doesn't eliminate all the pain. And Kifirin has a very hard path to tread for his part in all this. The new Lord of the Dark Realm will watch him closely, and I pity him if he makes mistakes past this point. I want to go visit Lendill and Kaldill, now. Edward is coming with me. Lendill lost Faldill earlier, and he's about to lose his two remaining brothers. I want to be there to support him when those decisions are made."
"I'll come," Teeg stepped forward.
"As will we," Lok and Aurelius looked exhausted, but they were coming as well. Ry, Corolan, Astralan, Farzi, Nenzi and a latecomer, brought in by Nefrigar, also came. Zendeval Rjjn, smiling almost shyly, showed up.
"In or out, bro?" Ry looked at Tory.
"I'll come," Tory nodded.
* * *
Gaelar N'Seith held an atmosphere of mourning and Kaldill, when we walked into his beautiful palace, had been weeping.
"Reah," he placed his arms around me, holding me tightly.
"Kaldill," I kissed his cheek.
"My father told me once he saw tragedy surrounding my children. I didn't know what that meant until today," he said, his voice so thick with tears he almost couldn't speak.
"I know. But someone very wise once told me that things go in a circle. What we lose, we gain," I touched his cheek gently.
"But it hurts in the losing," he said.
"I know. That's exactly what I was thinking when you said it to me."
Lendill had already removed Reldill's power when we made our way to the two cells inside Kaldill's palace. Faldill's body lay in state before both cells. He'd brushed against a Ra'Ak while trying to take down one of the other creatures attacking Lendill and Kaldill. He'd died a hero's death, after he'd said he didn't have enough strength or courage to be King of the Elves. Reldill stared at his brother's body, hands on the bars of his cage. Naldill, the instigator, had his back turned. It was like him not to take responsibility.
"You, come," I put power in my voice and changed to my smaller Thifilatha so Naldill had to obey. I pulled him right through the bars of his cell. "You will bury your brother," I said. "You will watch," I crooked my finger at Reldill.
Kaldill chose a spot beneath an ancient, spreading oak. Oaks were special to the elves. I didn't question, I merely handed a spade to Naldill and told him to dig. Twice he tried to quit. I wouldn't allow it. Finally, weeping tears that he wiped away with filthy and blistered fingers, the hole was deep enough.
"Both of you will lower your brother's body. It is your doing that he lies dead," I told them. Reldill was shaking with sobs by that time. Faldill was laid in the grave by his two older brothers while Kaldill and Lendill watched, wiping tears away. Nefrigar stood between both of them, trilling while they watched Faldill's burial.
"We will come for you tomorrow," Edward said to Naldill and Reldill afterward, stars filling his eyes. "You will be isolated on Cloudsong, and that world will not be approachable by any save the Powers That Be or those above them. You will remain there until your deaths. Since your power is now removed, you are mortal. Was your revenge worth that to you?" Edward turned and stalked away.
Lendill transported them back to their cells, and he offered towels and warm water for his brothers to wash.
"Did you want to stay with your father for a few days?" I asked Lendill.
"Yes," he nodded and held me briefly. "It could have been so much worse," he sighed against my hair.
"Yes, it could," I agreed.
* * *
"Where are we going?" Teeg asked the following morning.
"It's a surprise," I said. "But Kevis has to come."
"You wouldn't be able to leave me behind," he insisted. Therefore, the crowd went with me to Cloudsong.
"You wanted to know what bothered me, didn't you?" I took Kevis' hand as we walked through the audience chamber of the old palace. "Here," I pointed to a sooty spot on the floor. "This is what haunted me. Still does, somewhat."
"What?" Kevis turned his green-gold eyes on me.
"After Nedrizif sent his Greater Demons against me, I had no choice but to burn them to death against my scales," I sighed, staring at the ground. "But when the one who'd named himself the Greater Demon King saw that his Demons had no effect, he sent all that he controlled against me, including Zendeval," I nodded at Zen, who'd come with us.
"I saw him running toward me, so I held the fire back for only a blink to knock him away, then brought it to bear again. Another ran right into my left leg and burned to death in an instant. This is where my friend Bel died." I knelt on the stone floor and ran fingers through dark soot that had once been a trusted colleague. Aurelius drew in a breath. "I felt so much guilt. Blamed myself for so much. Was responsible for so much. I'd saved one of my captors and killed one of my friends." Kevis knelt beside me as I wiped tears away.
"But," I sniffled, "when Connegar came to get me, and took me to the place where this world connects to the next, I saw several people. My father was one of them. Addah Desh was another, and then I saw my mother and Lendevik Lith, Glinda's father. But last of all, and hardest of all—Bel came through. I could barely see him, I was crying so hard. He came and lifted me up.
'Do you think I blame you, Reah?' he asked. 'I do not. I had no mind left by that time, and my death was a mercy. Even if you had saved me, I would never have been whole in my mind. Now, I will come again, and soon. I will be born to you, Reah. This is promised to me. I will be your son and the heir to the King of Karathia.'" Ry drew in a breath when I made that announcement. "And we won't bother with middle names," I said, wiping more tears away. "Bel Erland Morphis will be born in two years and he and Garwin Wyatt will grow up together."
"Is this it, then?" Kevis came and pulled me against him. "Please tell me this is all. I have held back from touching you like I wanted for a long time."
"This is it," I said. "Except for the deep-seated anger I have against the Crown on Kifirin. Belen says to leave things as they are with my daughters, because to try to change things now will confuse and upset them. He says that Kifirin owes me a great debt, as do Jayd, Glinda and Garde. He says these debts may never be discharged, and I have to live with that. So, Kevis, you may have to listen to me for a while yet. But you can do it in bed if you want."
"I will be happy to listen to you, in bed or out," he smiled and gave me a warm kiss.
* * *
Pheligar can perform weddings. I didn't know that. He performed mine. I looked across a very crowded room and smiled at Renegar, who stood beside his mother and both his mates, Grace and Devin. Nefrigar was quite proud that his nephew was a Nameless One. I stood before Pheligar, who was smiling while every man who wanted to marry me stood in a semicircle around us. I was smiling, too. At all of them—Aurelius, Teeg, Lendill, Nefrigar, Rylend, Lok, Astralan, Corolan, Kevis, Zendeval, Tory, Edward, Farzi and Nenzi. Garwin Wyatt slept peacefully in Lissa's arms as Pheligar began the ceremony.
The End