"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
