Circle of Reign (78 page)

“I thought you said flattery was not appropriate right now,” Ryall replied.

“Good! Very good! Wit can often place you above others without openly belittling them. You will both do very well.”

The two boys looked at each other. “With what?” Ryall asked.

“Why, learning the Influences of true power, of course. You have already begun your lessons.”

“Are you a Vicar? We didn’t mean to intrude—” Holden began.

“A Vicar? One of the Changrual? Ancients Come, of course not. Well, not anymore. I have discovered higher paths than the Changrual could ever hope to travel. That began in this very room, in fact, just as it has for you, yes? I must say I am impressed with your ambition. I am here to perfect your learning.”

FIFTY-FOUR

Lord Hedron Kerr

Day 7 of 2
^nd
Dimming 412 A.U.

KATHRYN HOYT SHOOK IN HEDRON’S EMBRACE,
her tears wetting the left shoulder of his tunic and cloak. He let her cry uninterrupted. It went on for nearly half an hour before she finally pulled back.

“He saved us,” Hedron said. “You saved us. We would have had no chance without your bravery and your father’s trust in you. My people owe you everything. I owe you everything.”

Kathryn choked back a sob. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

“He said something to me before he died, something that caused me to find the courage to press forward.”

“What was it?”

“Essentially that once you retreat from doing what you know to be right, you have lost the right to life. Actually, he said ‘shrink’, not retreat. I have not ceased pondering on this since the end of the battle. Even when I felt doubt and was about to surrender, he was brave enough to urge me forward. This victory is had because of many, but not the least of which are you and your father’s roles. He may have well bought our victory by his last words.”

Hedron stepped forward and tenderly kissed Kathryn. It was brief and chaste, conveying his utter gratitude for her belief in
him. “I tell you again, my love, that had it not been for you, I would have been dead and my people gone with me.”

Alabeth whined as she limped forward on three legs, her hind leg that had taken a spear bandaged by a healer with Triarch leaves. She rubbed up against Hedron’s leg.

“I think we’re going to have to keep her,” Kathryn said.

“She’ll not be a pet. Alabeth will come and go as she pleases.”

“What of the others? These Borathein that are still coming from the glaciers?”

“Jayden is seeing to their preparations. She has marked land already for their use in the Gonfrey Forest. I have also sent provisions to them that are being carried by some of the remaining Alysaar. Their journey will have been hard and treacherous.”

Kathryn was pensive. “You are showing great mercy, more than is expected.”

Hedron swallowed and looked away. “It’s not easy.” In his pocket he felt for the wreath pendant that had been Seilia’s. “Not easy.”

“I must see to something. Will you come with me?” Hedron asked.

Kathryn nodded. “Of course.”

They walked through the streets of Calyn together. Kathryn witnessed both rejoicing and mourning. Few fires remained but the smoke had become a hazard. Hedron had organized teams to begin clearing the debris and caused the canopy above Calyn and the surrounding forest to be cut away, allowing the trapped smoke to escape. Many of the Gyldenal were busy infusing
seedlings
, they had called it, with Lumenati Light and planting them in the earth. Kathryn decided she would need to learn more about these Gyldenal.

“The Southern Province is yours, Hedron. Our marriage will make it so. I am the only heir my father had. My mother could remain as regent if you so desired. She knows the people and—”

“I never sought this,” Hedron interrupted. “Any of this.”

Kathryn knew what he meant. He looked solemn. It was an effect of the burden he was now carrying, she guessed.

“That is exactly why you are now who you are. And you are the right person, my love. Everyone can see it.”

She saw him raise a hand to his chest where she knew his scars lay under his clothing.

“No,” she said, gently grabbing his hand. “Let them go. They will not hinder you any longer.”

As they walked, they came upon a group of children gathered in an area of the city. Hundreds.

“Who are they all?” Kathryn asked.

“These are the ones who lost both parents in the battle and are now orphaned.”

Kathryn’s heart sank. “There are hundreds, Hedron.”

“Four hundred and thirty-three.”

Empathy was awash in Kathryn Hoyt as she took in the sight of the younglings, and tears stung her eyes. She saw healers among them, caring for and comforting them. Others—relatives Kathryn guessed—sifted between the younglings, desperate looks upon their faces as they searched for loved ones. Some found those they sought…others did not. A storyweaver told tales and sang songs accompanied by his mandolin to a score or so of children who had flocked to him.

Good
, Kathryn thought.
Their minds need to be distracted
.

A young girl with a bow and a boy, obviously her brother, were on the outskirts of the group. Hedron went to them and Kathryn followed. The young Lord knelt before the younglings.

“Rue-anna, Mikahl, there is something I have for you,” Hedron said. An airy, longing melody came from the storyweaver’s song in the background. “It will be difficult for you to receive, but keep heart.” He pulled out Seilia’s wreath pendant and placed it into Rue-anna’s hand, closing her fingers around it. Mikahl started to cry. “I have no doubt,
none
, that she fought when they came for her.”

Kathryn’s breath caught as she understood. Rue-anna was silent as she looked down, obviously fighting the tears. “My
Krithia
is gone,” she said in a broken voice.

“I am told, Rue-anna, that you and your brother saved Master Aiden’s life. That you and those younglings here who fought are the greatest heroes our people have known in ages. Such sacrifice should not have been asked of you, but such courage has never been known among our people. You are my heroes, both of you. All of you.”

Hedron stood up and backed a few paces off to compose himself.

“What will happen to them all?” Kathryn asked.

Hedron turned to her and she looked upon the man she loved with blurry vision.

“I will resurrect the Kerr Hold and it will be larger than it ever was. My mother always wanted more children and it broke her heart when she could not have more. I remember her happiest when she heard our laughter through the hold.” He stopped and swallowed. “There will be many who have family that can care for them. Aunts, uncles, grandparents. But there will still be scores left that have no one. I was hoping… I was hoping that…that we might consider—”

Kathryn’s heart beat faster as she realized what Hedron was suggesting. Before Hedron could finish, she threw her arms around him and said, “Of course. We will see to them. All of them. One way or another.”

Kathryn stepped into the midst of the children and went from child to child, asking their names and where they were from.

“And also,” she said, while dealing with her own immense grief, “tell me something fun about yourselves.”

Aiden sat alone, pondering all that had happened. Thannuel’s sword lay on his lap, supporting his arms as they propped up his head.

The boy’s sword now
, he knew. He felt so much guilt still for what had befallen the House of Kerr, Thannuel’s death foremost among them.
Perhaps one day, after I have sacrificed enough, you can forgive me
.

He had disappeared after the Borathein retreated north and not had contact with anyone since. Ehliss finally found him.

“Aiden! Where have you been? I have been so worried.” She saw the lines on his face, a scar where the skin had been healed. She came to him and put her hands to his face. “You are hurt.”

“It’s nothing, just a scar. The wound has been healed.”

“Has it?” Ehliss asked.

Aiden sensed the deeper question she was asking. A myriad of sarcastic responses surfaced to his mind to rebuff the tenderness of the moment but were drowned when Ehliss again touched his face. He just stared at her. Words failed to find his lips though they moved, searching for what to say.

“I’m far from healed,” Aiden said. “I may be beyond that. I’m damaged, Ehliss, more than you know.”

“I like damaged,” she whispered.

“Blast you, princess.” Aiden let himself fall to his knees and into her arms. Deep sobs erupted from him as he released his guilt and forgave himself. She held him for hours and hours more.

Reign sat with Crimson Snow, Jayden, Daneris and Aramith in the forest just east of Calyn. Her sword was sheathed at her side but she felt the Jarwynian blade still humming with a reservoir of Living Light within it. The forest north of the city was still covered with the dead of both sides. Heat from the funeral pyre radiated all around them. Tears streamed down Reign’s cheek.

He was right. I did not understand the cost
. She let the emotion flow from her unabated and unrecycled. He had healed her upon the canopy with the forest’s Light but also much of his own.
Too much
. She felt the currents of those around her, and knew they felt much the same as she did.

“He has no living seed,” Daneris lamented. Reign understood. There was no one for Evrin to leave his last breath to.
The cost
—
too high
. But Hedron lived because of his sacrifice, she argued with herself. She would have paid the cost, should have.
Not Evrin
.

He knew full well what he was doing
, Thannuel comforted.
He chose this and considered it his life’s honor to serve the Light in this way
.

“Who was he?” Reign asked. “Really?”

“Evrin was truly a strong current, a bright spark of the Lumenatis,” Jayden said. “He was to train you, little one.” She spoke with thick emotion. “He was the last living who knew an Ancient, one from the time before the Turning Away. All who had personal knowledge of them are now gone.”

“What will happen now?” Reign asked.

“Noxmyra will become desperate. And also those who are her agents.”

“Rehum still walks the land,” Aramith said.

“Tyjil, now,” Daneris said. Reign enjoyed the sound of his deep baritone. It tickled her ears.

“Wellyn’s advisor? What of him?” Reign asked.

Jayden raised her head. “He is most devious and cunning. More so than most know. It is he, not High Duke Wellyn, that is the true enemy. Wellyn is no more than a means to an end in Tyjil’s larger scheme.”

“But his army is decreased significantly. He won’t dare try again with such a dwindled force,” Daneris said. “The High Duke will sue for peace now.”

“He will soon be removed if he has not already been,” Jayden said. “The snake will have no more use for him. Evrin warned the Dark Mother would walk the land again. He saw it long ago.”

Our greatest challenge still lies ahead of us
, Thannuel said as Reign repeated his words aloud for the group.
The true battle has yet to be waged
.