Chapter 25

All Trystan saw was blood.

He felt as if his own life force drained out of him at the moment of Briggs’ death.

Blood and death… but they’d won.

Shouting still rang out from the courtyard. Two armies were still locked in battle.

Trystan stood in shock. Around him, his friends suffered. The two remaining Tri-Gard members huddled over Lorelai who hadn’t moved in too long.

Davi stared wide-eyed at the ceiling above with Rissa clutching his hands.

And Alixa. The thought of her spurred him into action. Her breath wheezed in her chest as her face twisted in pain.

Her leather armor had split open at the side to reveal a long gash. She squeezed her eyes shut.

“Alixa.” Trystan pressed a hand over her wound to staunch the flow of blood. “Alixa, open your eyes.”

When she obeyed, her gaze held a hazy quality as if she wasn’t really seeing him.

“Stay with me, Alixa.”

“Trystan,” she whispered, a tear tracking down her face.

“No. You’re going to be okay. Alixa…” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I can’t do this without you. I won’t.”

She tried to lift her arm and failed.

“Trystan,” Rissa whispered as she put a hand on his shoulder. “Is she…?”

“She will be fine,” he snapped as he slid his arms underneath her.

As he hoisted her into the air, the ground shook.

“What’s happening?” Davi yelled, finally sitting up.

Rocks rained down around them as the ground shifted under their feet.

“We have to get out of here,” Ramsey yelled, lifting Lorelai. “Now.”

Rissa helped Davi to his feet and Trystan followed them out. They passed bodies strewn along the halls.

Chaos reigned in the courtyard below as legionnaires and Dreach-Sciene soldiers alike scrambled to get distance from the crumbling walls.

Felled soldiers littered the land surrounding the fortress.

“Hold on, Alixa.” Trystan grit his teeth and picked up speed.

Both armies fled as if the ground would swallow them whole. Horses ran wildly across the battlefield.

“We have to get them back to camp,” Trystan yelled above the chaos. “To the healers.”

Ramsey nodded and shifted Lorelai higher into his arms.

“Your Majesty.” Wren’s voice reached them.

Trystan glanced back to find Wren and a bedraggled Mira leading horses from the Cullenspire stables.

Trystan didn’t pause before lifting Alixa onto the saddle of one of them and climbing on behind her. He kicked hard, not looking back to see if any of the others followed.

The horse cantered across the magic line, supposedly going from dead land to land thriving with power. But the tingling he’d grown used to didn’t come.

His horse jumped to avoid a felled tree as the ground finally stopped shaking.

When he got to camp, a healer took Alixa from him and he was left to pace outside the tent. His people swarmed around him, searching for loved ones. Some mourned for the lost and he knew there’d be much time for that.

A few other horses galloped into camp. Rissa slid down and ran toward him before throwing her arms around his shoulders. “Is she okay?”

He only shrugged.

A sob wracked her body. “It’s gone. All of it. Do you feel it?”

He held her at arm’s length, imploring her to explain.

Her lip quivered. “Was this what it felt like before when the magic was drained?” She clutched at her chest. “I could feel it was happening, in here. The earth’s agony.” She shook her head. “What happened?”

Ramsey appeared and lowered Lorelai to the ground.

Rissa released another sob. “She’s dead, isn’t she? And Avery… I told you our sacrifices were worth it. That they were needed for our people, but…” She shook her head. “Avery was mother’s guard, her friend. She helped raise us. Taught us. Protected us. And now she’s gone.”

Ramsey lifted his tortured eyes to Rissa’s. “They’re never gone. Everything Avery taught you is still inside of you. Alixa has not left us yet. And Lorelai…” He looked down into her face. “She’s finally at peace.”

“What happened?” Rissa asked, jumping toward her grandfather. “What did you do this time? Why is the magic gone?”

An arm wrapped around Rissa’s waist as Davi yanked her back.

Lonara was the one who answered. “There must always be three. The Tri-Gard are the earth’s balance. Without each one of us, magic cannot exist. We have light and we have earth, but Briggs Villard was the darkness all magic must have.”

“You knew this would happen.” Trystan was suddenly so sure. “From the moment we found you.”

Ramsey brushed Lorelai’s hair out of her still face and sighed. “Briggs had to be stopped.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Rissa ran a shaking hand over her blood-caked braid.

Lonara watched her sadly. “We are not protectors of man. It is not our job to give you power. We are stewards of the earth. Briggs would have used the power to destroy everything.”

The healer emerged from the tent and beckoned Trystan forward.

“This girl was very lucky you got her here so quickly. I was able to close the wound before she lost too much blood.”

“She’s going to live?”

The healer nodded. “Now, will you let me look at that cut on your face?”

Trystan barely even remembered the injury after everything that happened. “Later. Please.” He touched the place where crusted blood covered the cut.

A breath whooshed into Trystan’s lungs as if he hadn’t breathed in days when he pushed into the tent to find Alixa laying on a cot.

Kneeling beside her, he kissed the side of her face.

Her eyes slid open slowly. “Trystan.”

“I thought I’d lost you.”

“Didn’t you know I’m more stubborn than that? You’ll have to try much harder than an epic battle against a powerful sorcerer and evil king to get rid of me.”

He released a relieved laugh and rest his forehead against her chest. “Earth, I love you.”

A smile spread across her face. “So, we won. We’re safe?”

He shook his head. “The magic is gone again.”

“But we’re safe?”

He nodded against her. She was right. His people were safe, for now. He’d have to deal with the remaining legions and send his army into Dreach-Dhoun to make sure the villagers were unharmed.

And then when the land started suffering for the lack of magic again, he’d find a way to save it.

As if she too was thinking of the suffering, her eyes squeezed shut. "My father. He's the only one of them left. I don't want to kill him, Trystan." She opened her eyes to search his face. "I once thought I did... but I think we've had enough killing."

He ran a hand over her dark hair. She would never stop amazing him. "You're right. He will remain our prisoner... but we have enough dead to bury."

Tears shone in her eyes and she nodded as she turned her face into his palm.

He leaned his forehead down against hers. “When I thought you were gone…” He sucked in a shuddering breath. “I didn’t like how my future looked. I can’t do this without you.”

“Of course you can,” she breathed.

He closed his eyes. “Fine, then I don’t want to do it without you.”

“What are you saying?”

“Alixa Eisner…” He opened his eyes to find her staring at him. Was that fear or awe he saw in her gaze? “Dreach-Sciene needs you. I need you. You almost gave everything for this kingdom and what I want from you isn’t going to be easy.”

“Trystan.” Her eyes widened. “I’m going to need you to spell it out.”

“Marry me,” he whispered. “I know you only just started not to hate me. We still have so much to learn about each other. You think I’m a sexist asshole. I know you’re a handful. But Alixa… you almost died. We almost didn’t get our chance. My mother and father only had a few years together but that time defined their lives. Let’s take our chance. I don’t want to wait until it’s too late.”

A smile graced her lips and she placed one finger against Trystan’s mouth, stilling his words. “You’re rambling, my king.” She trailed her finger down his chin to his neck where she could feel his heart beat strong.

He released a groan as she continued to consider him. “You’re killing me here.”

She laughed softly. “In the past few months, my family has betrayed me. I’ve washed my hands in blood. Every part of my life has crashed down around me. And then you came like a knight in friggin’ armor. My king. You saved me. You saved the kingdom. I don’t want to exist in this life without you.”

“Yes?” He asked tentatively.

She nodded. “Yes.”

Trystan grabbed her face between his hands and kissed her. Magic may be gone, but they’d survive just as they had before.

Shouting reached them from outside.

Trystan stood with, unable to wipe the grin from his face. “The army is returning. They'll be frightened and exhausted. I’ll be right back. I promise.”

She nodded, matching his smile. "Go be king."

He found everyone within sight hovering over Lorelai.

A faint buzzing traveled over his skin. Magic.

When he pushed his way through the crowd, he found a mass of weeping and astounded people. At the center of them was Lorelai sitting up and staring ahead with wide eyes.

Rissa lunged for her, gripping her shoulders in a hug.

“It’s back,” Davi said to no one in particular.

Lonara and Ramsey spoke in hurried tones.

Rissa released Lorelai and glanced down, her mouth opening and shutting rapidly. Marked onto the skin of Lorelai’s forearm was a symbol. Trystan has seen it before in the mountains of Isenore when it had defined Briggs Villard.

The sigil of the third Tri-Gard member.

“The earth chose a new steward,” Lonara said.

Trystan scanned the camp where soldiers were making their way back from the battlefield. He breathed in. Dreach-Sciene was going to move on just as he’d already begun to. They were going to create a new world.

A flash of blonde hair bolted past Trystan as Anna tore through camp with a cry on her lips. Wren had barely dismounted from his horse before she threw herself at him.

She sobbed loudly.

Wren squeezed her tightly. "Where's mother?"

Anna cried hard before finally shaking her head.

Wren's eyes shuttered with sadness and Trystan couldn't make himself look away, feeling guilty for the brief moment of joy he’d experienced with Alixa. Each of them had been touched by loss.

Mira took Anna from Wren's arms and Wren walked toward Trystan. "Your Majesty." He blew out a breath and ran a shaky hand through his hair. "Thank you for coming to protect Isenore."

Trystan met his gaze, turning from newly engaged man to determined king. "I am not only king of Aldorwood and Sona. Isenore is a part of Dreach-Sciene. I only wish we had come sooner. The palace was under siege."

"I know. I heard many of Calis' plans while in Cullenspire with him."

"How did you survive the initial attack when others didn't?"

Wren smiled but the gesture didn't reach his eyes. "After the last battle at Cullenspire, my father went to work preparing the stronghold should it ever face war again. Tunnels. Hidden rooms. Places where the stone opened to the earth. My father always had faith the Renaulds would recover the magic."

Trystan's eyes widened. "So, you've just been hiding?"

"Calis found Mira only a few days back. After we got my mother and Anna through the tunnels, we started having a little fun creating havoc for the legions stationed inside the fortress."

Trystan reached out and gripped his shoulder. "We are in your debt. I am sorry for all you and Mira have lost."

"You can never lose what you keep in here." Wren pressed a hand against his chest.

Another man ran toward them, skidding to a halt to avoid a collision with Wren. Rion stared as if not quite believing his friend stood in front of him. Slowly, a grin spread across his face.

Trystan gave wren's shoulder a final squeeze and left the two to their reunion as he joined Davi. A man he’d never seen before hovered at the tree line before making a straight line for them.

“General Mack.” Davi grinned. “You have our eternal gratitude.” The two men shook hands.

Trystan joined them.

“General.” Davi clapped Trystan on the shoulder. “Let me introduce you to the king.”

The man’s eyes widened and he fumbled through a bow.

The Dreach-Dhoun troops who’d turned against their king changed the tide of the war. Trystan eyed him. “Do not bow to me, General. Not here. Not when you have saved so many of my people.” Trystan bent at the waist. “We owe you everything.”

The general cleared his throat. “Sire, Dreach-Dhoun suffers. Calis Bearne tore our kingdom apart and now we find ourselves with no direction. We have many across the border who are still being held. The prince told me you are a king who will build a better world. We need a leader.”

Trystan hated the next words he spoke because he didn’t want to think of his best friend leaving him. But there was only one person who could rebuild that kingdom. “You have a leader. Davion Bearne is the rightful heir to your throne.”

General Mack grinned. “My thoughts exactly, sire. Most across the border will follow him.”

Davi shook his head. “I’m sorry, your Majesty. General, I am no king. I have lived my life as a common man, not a prince. There is one better to lead.” He paused. “Dreach-Dhoun and Dreach-Sciene were split centuries ago by sorcerers who lusted for power. As long as it exists as two kingdoms, the people will never see themselves as one. Maybe it’s time to cease the endless wars for good.”

General Mack smiled proudly. “A new world?”

“Peace.”

Trystan peered over his shoulder at the new Tri-Gard member. Would they help him? They had a lot of work ahead of them, a lot of struggles.

And every bit of it was worth it if his people had the peace they deserved. Could he rule two kingdoms?

No. That was the simple answer.

But they weren’t asking him to do that. He wouldn’t be king of Dreach-Sciene and Dreach-Dhoun.

“Dreach,” he said, reverence tinging his tone. “We are one people.”

General Mack bowed once more. “I must return to my camp. They need me. Goodbye for now… my king.”

Trystan watched him go and rubbed his eyes in exhaustion. “I need to speak to all those who’ve returned.”

Davi shook his head. “There will be time for speeches and king duties later. Right now, you look as if you might fall where you stand.”

Trystan sighed and let Davi lead him back to Alixa’s tent. Rissa sat at her side.

Trystan dropped onto the end of the cot and put his head in his hands. His exhaled in exhaustion as the day’s events crashed over him.

They’d done it, but they’d lost too much along the way.

Their youth and innocence.

Friends and loved ones. Edric. Avery. Marcus Renauld.

Their hands had been stained with blood.

“Our quest is finally over,” he whispered.

Rissa leaned forward to grip his arm. “Calis hadn’t planned for this. He manipulated us into war and we’re finally free. No more ploys or secret plots. His game has ended.”

Davi’s eyes darkened at the mention of his father.

Trystan met their swirling depths. “I’m sorry for your father’s death.”

Because he was. Calis’ death was what they’d hoped for. He was trying to destroy them. But in the end, he wasn’t the dark king. In his final moments, he’d only been a father protecting his son.

Davi wiped away a tear. “Thank you for saying that. For… understanding.”

Rissa stood and walked around the bed so she could wrap her arms around Davi. “You were his one weakness, Dav.”

Davi rested his chin on her head. “No. Ri, I’ve been telling you this entire time, emotion isn’t a weakness. When you cry, you’re showing the world your strength. When you love someone, you’re showing yourself your strength. I think the moment my father decided not to let me die was when he finally became strong.”

Trystan closed his eyes, letting his friend’s words sink into his mind. Calis Bearne commanded armies, tormented towns. He had a Tri-Gard member to do his bidding. But he’d lived his life in fear of losing himself. He sent his son away and had his sister executed.

For the first time, Trystan saw the dark king as he really was.

And that’s when he realized what he should have known all along.

Dreach-Sciene was always going to win this war. His people loved their kingdom and they loved each other. They were stronger than any legion of well-trained, emotionless soldiers.

Because they didn’t fight out of fear.

“Thanks, Dav.”

“What for?” Davi asked.

“For helping me learn how to be king.”

“Truwa.” Davi held out his hand. “Brathair.”

Trystan had never truly understood what those words would mean to him one day. Now, they were everything.

He gripped Davi’s hand and met Rissa’s glassy gaze. “Trust.” His eyes shifted to Alixa as if the phrase now encompassed all four of them. “Brother.”