As for Lord Forsyth and Inquisitor Rook, both were imprisoned in Corcillum’s dungeons, to live out the rest of their lives in captivity. Fletcher considered it a fitting end for the pair, though far better than they deserved.
Othello’s smile turned into a grin, and he put an arm around Fletcher’s shoulders as they walked toward the Foxes’ old training ground.
But something was different now, emerging from the landscape beyond it. The ruin of the Raleigh mansion had been transformed, rebuilt by the townsfolk while Fletcher had recovered from his wounds. Even the lawns had been cleared of debris.
“Bloody hell, nice to see how the other half lives, eh, Othello?” Cress joked.
“I haven’t actually been in there yet,” Fletcher said.
“Why not?” Sylva asked.
“It doesn’t feel right,” he replied, shrugging. “Not yet anyway.”
“He’s nuts,” Cress said. “I’ll have it if you don’t want it.”
“As his best mate, I get first rights to it,” Othello joked.
“Bugger that,” Cress said. “I’m gonna go choose my room.”
Fletcher grinned as Othello and Cress raced toward the old mansion.
“You’d better hurry, before all the good ones are gone,” Fletcher joked, turning to Sylva.
She smiled faintly, her eyes on the horizon.
“You know, I should get going,” she said, unrolling a summoning scroll from a pocket in her dress. “My father needs me on the southern border. The elves are holding it while Hominum rebuilds its army.”
“So soon?” Fletcher asked, his heart sinking. “The whole orc army fled when they saw Khan’s Dragon fall. They don’t believe in the prophecy anymore.”
“They’ve started raiding again,” Sylva replied, shaking her head regretfully. “There’s an army of leaderless orcs across the frontier. They don’t know anything else—they’ve been raised to fight. This war isn’t over.”
She caught Fletcher’s crestfallen expression and paused. She leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
Fletcher was so surprised, he didn’t even have time to react. Not before Lysander materialized and she jumped astride the Griffin with an agile leap.
“I’ll come visit you,” she said softly.
Then she was gone, disappearing into the sky.
Fletcher watched her ruefully, not allowing himself to hope, yet grinning all the same. She was unreadable, but time would tell. For now, he was just happy to be alive. To be free of the weight of Hominum’s future.
A horse neighed. Fletcher turned and saw a carriage wheeling its way onto the lawn, leaving deep tracks in the neatly trimmed grass.
“That’s going to leave a mark,” Fletcher groaned.
He jogged up to it.
“You’re too late,” Fletcher called to the driver on the coach box. “If you’re quick you might catch them on their way to Corcillum.”
He pointed down the street as the carriage door swung open. Berdon stepped out, a bashful grin on his face.
“Sorry, son,” Berdon said, giving his son a friendly hug. “Forgot they’d done up the place.”
“I don’t care about the lawn; I care that you’ve missed the whole thing,” Fletcher said. “You know, whatever business you had could’ve waited. There’s not even any cake left—Cress ate it all.”
“Well, that’s the thing,” Berdon said, smiling down at him. “It couldn’t wait, actually. There’s someone who wants to meet you.”
But Fletcher wasn’t listening. Because a woman had stepped out of the carriage. Alice. His mother.
He stared, not understanding. Her eyes. It was as if she was looking straight at him. He took a hesitant step forward.
“Fletcher?” she said hesitantly.
“Go on, son,” Berdon said, giving him a gentle push.
Then tears were running down Fletcher’s face, and she was there, hugging him to her chest. It was as if a dam had burst within him, flooding him with joy. After all these years, everything he had been through … he had his mother back.
“I’m sorry,” she said, sobbing. “I’m so sorry.”
Fletcher pulled away and looked up at her. He touched her cheek, hardly able to believe she was real.
“Don’t be sorry,” Fletcher said. “I’m here now. You’re here now.”
She smiled through her tears.
“Come on,” she said, taking him by the hand.
They walked toward the mansion, Berdon waving him on with a booming laugh that filled the air.
Fletcher had never been so happy.
Because finally, he was home.