The Elf King (73 page)

Kandish stood beside them,
watching their embrace, smiling broadly though it hurt her dry,
cracked lips to do so. After several long minutes they broke, and
she saw each of them wipe their tears.

“
Brother. I wasn’t sure…”
Tane began, struggling with his emotions.

“
And yet here I am! Look at
yourself!” Qenn laughed. Tane somehow looked larger than
before.

“
Kandish!” Tane smiled to
her. “I see you’ve kept watch over him! I know what a job you’ve
had!”

They each laughed. Kandish
said, “He’s a handful. But no more than I was. And yourself as
well, I think.”

She lunged out and embraced
him briefly. “It’s good to see you again.”

“
I was worried about you
two.” Tane replied, staring at them both. His smile was gone for
the moment. “I was going to send out my best riders to find you. It
is so good to have you here with me.”

“
Well, it was true then.
Shadox knew what he was doing.” Qenn said to Tane. “You’re King.
And the demons are destroyed. We did it, Tane. We did it for
her.”

Tane held his emotions,
nodding only, not wanting them to see him cry.

Qenn added, “I can’t
believe you’re King of Cillitran. I could picture King of
Stinkweed.”

“
I am, and always will be
your brother.” Tane hugged Qenn again, patting his back several
times in joy. “Save for now, I can throw you in a dungeon. One full
of Stinkweed.”

They laughed
again.

“
Cook!” Tane shouted
towards the kitchen. The cook rushed out. “Your finest ale!
Deserts! Pies and cakes and whatever else you have to
celebrate!”

Qenn smiled broadly. “I
have a story for you.”

Tane laughed hard. “As do
I, brother. As do I.”

As one, the three walked
back to the table, already beginning their tales.

About the author

Sean McKenzie began writing
screenplays shortly after high school. After working with
independent film companies, he began his first novel,
The Elf King
©, a fantasy
fiction. His second book
Project
Human
was adapted from a screenplay he and
his wife had written during the time
The
Elf King
was being edited. Sean currently
lives in northern Michigan with his wife Kandi, his son Quentin,
and his daughter Alessandra.

You can connect with the
author at
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002076848059