Chapter 47 Continuation
"Because I am tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of hating. Tired of being alone." Brutus looked at them with exhausted eyes. "I was wrong. About everything. About you. About what strength means. About what leadership looks like."
"You are saying you were wrong? Just like that?"
"Not just like that. It took months of starving. Of fighting for survival. Of watching other rogues die because there was no one to help them." Brutus's voice cracked. "Out here, power means nothing. Community is everything. And I have no community anymore."
"So you want to come back? Join us?"
"If you will have me. I know I do not deserve it. I know I was cruel. But I can change. I want to change." Brutus knelt down. "Please. Give me one chance. Just one. To prove I can be better."
Mara looked at Zevran. He shrugged. Your choice.
"Stand up," Mara said. "We do not kneel in this kingdom. Everyone stands equal."
Brutus stood slowly. Hope flickered in his eyes.
"I will give you a chance. One chance. But there are conditions."
"Anything."
"First, you publicly apologize to everyone you hurt. Everyone you wronged. Take responsibility for your actions."
"I will."
"Second, you serve this kingdom. Not me. Not Zevran. The kingdom. You put the needs of the people above your own pride."
"I will."
"And third, you help us retrieve the royal gold from the vault. Use it to build something good. Something that benefits everyone."
"The vault? How do you know about that?"
"Darius's will. It mentioned the location. But we need someone of royal blood to open it safely. That is you."
Brutus was quiet for a moment. "If I help you get the gold, I want something in return."
"What?"
"I want to lead the building projects. Use the gold to create jobs for rogues. Give them a chance to rejoin society. To have purpose again." Brutus looked at Mara. "There are thousands like me. Cast out. Forgotten. Dying in the wilderness. Let me save them."
Mara was surprised. That was actually a good idea. A noble goal.
"Agreed. You lead the building projects. Give rogues a second chance. But if you steal even one coin of that gold for yourself, the deal is off."
"I will not. You have my word."
"Your word is worth nothing to me. But your actions will prove whether you have changed." Mara held out her hand. "Do we have a deal?"
Brutus stared at her hand. At the trust she was offering despite everything.
He shook it. "We have a deal."
They returned to the Great Stone Circle together. Word spread quickly that Brutus had returned. That Mara had forgiven him.
Some wolves were angry. Others were confused. But most were hopeful.
If even Brutus could change, maybe anyone could.
The next day, Brutus stood before the entire kingdom. Made his public apology. Owned his mistakes. Promised to do better.
It was awkward. Emotional. But genuine.
When he finished, Elder Sage spoke. "The council accepts your apology. You may remain in the kingdom. But you will be watched. One mistake and you are exiled permanently. Understood?"
"Understood," Brutus said.
Plans were made to excavate the vault. It would take time. Resources. But the potential reward was worth it.
That night, Mara sat with Nyra drinking yet another cup of terrible tea.
"You did a good thing today," the witch said. "Giving Brutus a second chance."
"I hope I did not make a mistake."
"Time will tell. But I think he is genuine. Suffering changes people. Humbles them."
"Or makes them bitter and resentful."
"That too. We will see which path Brutus chooses."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while.
"Can I ask you something?" Mara said.
"Why did you stay? After everything that happened with Elara? With Morgana? You could have left. Gone somewhere safe."
"Because this is where I am needed. You are trying to build something new. Something good. I want to see if it is possible." Nyra smiled. "Also, someone needs to keep making you terrible tea. Cannot trust that to anyone else."
"It is getting better. Less terrible."
"Liar. But I appreciate the effort."
A wolf ran into the garden. "Moon Wolf! Come quickly! Something has happened at the excavation site!"
Mara and Nyra exchanged glances. Ran to the site.
When they arrived, they found workers gathered around a hole. A massive hole where the ground had collapsed.
"What happened?" Mara demanded.
"We broke through to the vault," Marcus said. "But there is a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"See for yourself."
Mara looked down into the hole. Saw the vault. Saw the gold stacked in neat piles.
But she also saw something else.
A figure. Sitting on a throne made of bones. Eyes glowing red in the darkness.
Prince Ronan.
He should have been catatonic. Trapped in his own mind by Selene's curse.
But he was awake. And smiling.
"Hello, cousin," he called up to Mara. "Thank you for finding me. I have been waiting so patiently for someone to dig me out."
"That is impossible," Zevran breathed. "Selene trapped you. You should be mindless."
"I was. For a while. But then something wonderful happened. The Devourer touched me. Before he was sealed. Gave me a gift. Freedom from the curse. Power beyond imagining." Ronan stood. "And now I am going to take back what is mine. Starting with this kingdom."
He raised his hand. The ground began to shake.
"Everyone back!" Kieran shouted. "He is going to collapse the entire site!"
They ran. But not fast enough.
The ground gave way. Dozens of wolves fell into the vault. Screaming. Trapped.
Ronan laughed. The sound echoed from the darkness below.
"Let the fun begin."