The Marenon Chronicles Collection

Chapter Thirty-One





Silas watched the green head that floated above the emerald in the silver wristband. Julian spoke to him in secret about what had transpired over the past two months since the Battle of Mudavé. It was nighttime, and the crisp, cool air brushed at Silas’ shaggy hair. He was glad his cloak provided some warmth in the cold cliffs of the Luras Mountains.

Julian told him about how the kingdom fared post-battle. The Dunarians no longer existed as a people group; rather they had joined with the rest of the Humans as regular citizens, though many of them were dedicated to completing repairs of their homes in Jekyll Rock.

The Humans of Marenon had demanded that Julian remain their king, especially after hearing about his role in helping Silas destroy the Red Gate; a story told not by Julian, but by Kaden and others that had some influence among the people.

But Julian didn’t want to have his power unchecked any longer. He felt that no king should have absolute power and even urged the Erellens to follow the new kind of government that Julian had proposed.

Julian had created a new council. There was no leader among them, though Julian held the title as king, which made him a liaison between the council and the citizens. Kaden, Alric, Inga, Coffman, Lorcan, and Nalani had been asked to be part of the council and all of them accepted their new role. After much thought, Julian remembered how well the Dunarian Council had functioned with eight members, and subsequently asked Dublin to become a voting member of the Royal Council. The old man had become so overjoyed with excitement that Julian thought he would keel over.

A lot of work still had to be done in Marenon, and perfect peace had not yet been obtained. Neither Silas nor Julian had expected there to be a complete absence of conflict. As long as people could think and opinions could be voiced, there would always be problems to resolve.

But there was also a hope for Humanity’s future in Marenon. Dink and Emma were to become the first set of Human parents. The child was expected to come in the months ahead, and Emma had become a kind of an iconic figure for the Humans. Many people had even demanded that Dink and Emma receive special treatment as First Father and First Mother. Silas was truly happy to hear this.

As for the other groups in Marenon, the Anwyns and their new leader were focused on moving their people back into Mudavé, though many Stühocs still resided there. The land in Mudavé was beginning to change. Plants were growing and grass began to cover more of the ground.

Conflict with the Stühocs would remain, but not to the scale they had seen before. Julian knew that they were now a part of Marenon permanently and would have to be treated as such, so long as they didn’t continue to war against the others.

The Erellens still kept to themselves for the most part, but were much more open to communicating with the Humans, and had even begun an open trade with them.

The surviving Nestorians moved back to Voelif. All other groups in Marenon had declared their slave trade against the law, and would consider it an act of war should they be caught doing so ever again.

This was good to hear, but deep down, Silas didn’t care about it. His thoughts drifted to the woman he had begun to love, then was forced to give up. It saddened him to think of Inga, crying over him. They would have begun a relationship had things been different, but Silas knew now that he had to spend his life alone. The road Silas had set before him would never allow for romance. For now, he was all right with that, but it didn’t erase his deep-rooted feelings for her.

“How is she?” Silas asked.

Julian said nothing at first, and then sighed. “She really believed that you were going to live. I think she expected it. She was crushed, Silas.”

It pained him to hear it, but Silas couldn’t let his feelings for her distract him from his new mission. He loved her. He would always love her. But she had to move on. The life of a Watchman was a life lived alone, a life of secrecy.

A long moment stood between them.

“How long before we’ll get to see Silas the Watchman alive and well?” Julian asked.

Silas shook his head. “I don’t know, Julian. I wish I did.”

After a few more moments of silence, they ended with a promise to contact one another should the need arise.

The light faded from Silas’ wristband and he sat in complete darkness with only the cold air and bright stars to keep him company.

Silas gripped his staff and watched in awe as a brilliant shooting star streaked through the sky. Silas had seen them before, but never so bright. This one kept going without fading, and even looked like it landed somewhere in the distance. Maybe he would search for it.

It was the end of an era. A new Marenon had been born. That new Marenon would need a Watchman that could look over the inhabitants – protect them. The future would not be all peace and happiness. Marenon would be in turmoil again someday. The people of Marenon would need someone with great magical power to rescue them again. Such was the job of the Watchman.

If it took him a thousand years, Silas would find or learn that magic. Someday he would be called upon for guidance, for direction, for rescue.

Whenever that time would come, Silas, the Watchman would be there.