by A J Park
“Thank you,” Shalyrie said. “I’m very grateful. Please bring them inside.”
Lorelei laughed when she saw them. As soon as the guards had gone, they opened the trunks and began sorting through the gowns.
“I was wondering what you were going to wear today,” Lorelei teased.
“They brought your trunk too,” Shalyrie pointed out.
“Doesn’t it shock them to see you wear colors?” Lorelei asked, holding up a red dress.
“I think it does, a little,” Shalyrie said. “We’ll start with something less startling.” She selected a dark blue gown.
Kalleck was preparing to officially receive the king in the wide courtyard in front of the Hall of Guardians. In preparation for this, King Telthan and his people were gathering in a building to one side of the courtyard. Kalleck had assigned it for their use during their stay. Shalyrie and Lorelei joined them.
Uncle Telthan hugged his niece. “You look stunning, my dear,” he said, fondly.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m feeling better.”
“It’s almost time,” King Telthan said. “Kalleck will be sending an escort for us.”
A short time later a company of black-armored men carrying spears arrived. They stood straight and tall. They looked serious and faceless behind their armor and masks, but Shalyrie knew better now. One of them was Ren—she recognized his armband—and he winked at her from behind his mask.
They began the slow walk up the stairs and across the courtyard. All the Yalkur who could possibly fit were crammed into every space. More were in every window and crowding every balcony. They were dressed in black, as always, but now they were draped with flowers or bright autumn leaves and sashes in vivid colors. Children threw handfuls of flower petals in their path.
As they made their way through, many people came forward to greet or thank Shalyrie and King Telthan.
“Lady Shalyrie!” they called. “The war is over! We thank the sea-king!”
Shalyrie translated for him.
A boy stepped forward. He looked about fourteen, still young enough to go unmasked. He was a handsome young man with his dark hair and eyes, but one arm was in a sling. In spite of that, he had an air of confidence about him that didn’t seem to match his age. Shalyrie recognized him.
“Hail, Lady Shalyrie and King of the Sea-Folk,” the boy said, putting his good hand over his heart and bowing.
“Hail, Kemman, son of Second Guardian Hannal,” Shalyrie replied in Yalkur.
The boy met her eye and said, “We did not have enough men to win the battle. My father fought bravely, but we were outnumbered. You saved our lives. My mother was badly hurt, but if not for your men, she would have been killed. Thank you.” He bowed again and disappeared into the crowd.
King Telthan smiled. “And who was that charming young man?”
“His name is Kemman. He’s the son of Second Guardian Hannal.”
“But he’s hurt,” Telthan said, his smile fading, realization growing on his face. “You don’t mean to tell me that he fought in the battle? He’s much too young.”
“Yes,” Shalyrie agreed.
Kalleck stood in front of the doors of the Hall of Guardians, the Yalkur Council surrounding him. High Priestess Allemi was on one side of him, and Hannal on the other. Someone was missing. Sinnar should have been standing beside him too.
They approached slowly, Shalyrie on the arm of the king. They came to a stop in front of Kalleck and the others. The crowd had followed them and filled in behind them, and now they were all cheering.
Kalleck raised his hand, and silence fell. He spoke in a loud voice. “It is not our custom to allow strangers into our lands,” he said. “In spite of this, we now welcome King Telthan of Almoria. Without him, none of us would be here now, and so we welcome him with all our hearts. King Telthan, you have our gratitude forever!”
All the Yalkur cheered. Kalleck repeated his words in Almorian, and all the Almorians present cheered as well.
Kalleck held up the treaty they had signed. “We have made an agreement of peace with the king. None of his soldiers will cross the river to attack us, and none of his people shall come into our lands without our consent. We agree to occupy the lands only on the west side of the great river. And we intend to continue and strengthen our friendship, and to establish peaceful trade with the sea-folk.”
The Yalkur cheered again.
Kalleck held up a small chest and turned to the king. “We present you with a token of our gratitude.” He gave the box to the king, and Telthan opened it. He held up a small sculpture of a horse, made of black stone. It was expertly formed.
“This was made by Adak, of the Stone Clan,” Kalleck said. “He is our most accomplished stone carver.”
“He is an artist indeed,” the king said. “It’s magnificent. I thank you, and please pass along my compliments to Adak.” The king held the sculpture high so everyone could see it, and they shouted their approval.
Kalleck held out his hand to Shalyrie. She took it, and he turned her to face the people. He spoke again. “There is no one who has done more to bring about peace than Lady Shalyrie Almorin.”
The people cheered and waved and called her name. There was gratitude, support, acceptance and caring in their voices. Shalyrie felt tears well up in her eyes. There had been many times when she felt that they would never accept her, never let her in.
“Without her help, we would not have succeeded in bringing about peace.” He paused and gave the people time to call out their gratitude. “And King Telthan. Without his support, we would not be here.” They cheered for him too. “And Lord Olthorin Almorin has given everything to serving our people. He is still missing.
“There are so many more who have given all their efforts, and many have given their lives, so that we can live to enjoy peace. One of these was Guardian Sinnar, Clan Chief of the Hunters and a good and loyal friend. His memory will be a symbol of the new peace between our peoples. In the beginning, there was no one who hated the sea-folk more than he did. His skill with weapons and fighting is unmatched among our people, and he fought and killed many of them.
“When Lady Shalyrie first came to be among us, Sinnar advised me to kill her. But as we began to communicate with them and to try and understand them—as he began to know them as people and not to make quick judgments based solely on their origin—he began to feel differently.
“Our people will use his memory as an example of learning to make peace. As he came to really know the Almorians, he became a good friend to Shalyrie. Sinnar was killed as we fought to make peace. His last act was to save the life of an Almorian. His last choice was to save Shalyrie’s life, at the cost of his own. We will remember him with the honor he deserves, and we will respect his sacrifice by allowing peace to grow.”
They shouted his name, “Sinnar, Sinnar!”
When finally it was quiet again, Kalleck said, “As a token of our new peace, I ask for one more thing from the sea-king. I ask for the hand in marriage of Lady Shalyrie Almorin.” Kalleck looked at Shalyrie, and he bent to one knee and took her hand. “Will you please be my wife?”
She smiled down at him, but wished she could see his face as he asked. “Yes,” she said. Everyone around them was cheering and laughing and congratulating them. Kalleck got up and hugged her. For a few moments, everything was noise and confusion. Kalleck raised his hand again and slowly everyone quieted.
“I give my blessing to their union,” King Telthan said, and Kalleck translated. Noise and confusion erupted again, and this time Kalleck made no effort to stop it.
Everyone surrounded them. They felt like family now. Kellji slipped between the others and hugged Shalyrie.
“Oh, Kellji,” she whispered. “How I wish this day were different for you.”
Kellji spoke in her ear. “I know. I wish he were here to see it t
oo. But he’s not. You can’t keep blaming yourself. You couldn’t have stopped him from helping you, even if you tried. It was who he was.”
“But now he’s gone… and you…”
“Yes,” Kellji said. “But he would have wanted you and Kalleck to be happy. And so do I.”
They held onto each other, sharing their grief. Sinnar was gone.
Their loved ones around them understood that their joy today was mixed with pain. They knew, and they felt the same way. Shalyrie felt loved and supported. They would stand by her, no matter what happened.
The doors of the Hall were thrown wide and a feast was laid out. The king and his men ate with Kalleck’s people. There was music and everyone danced. Shalyrie held out her hand to Uncle Telthan. “One last time,” she whispered to him, “the first dance is yours.”
Shalyrie danced with Kalleck next, and then with everyone else.
Eventually, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Finn. “Did you save a dance for me?” he asked, offering his hand.
How could she refuse? She put her hand in his and they began to twirl with the slow rhythm of the music.
“Are you feeling better?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “I’m actually surprised at how well I do feel. I thought it would take longer to recover. It must be the mountain air. There is something about this place.”
“There is,” she agreed. “Very good air.” She smiled at him. “Thank you for what you did, Finn. You were loyal and brave, and you helped save many lives.”
He shrugged off her compliment. “I was only keeping my promise to the king.”
“It was more than that,” she said. “I’m sorry it wasn’t what you wanted it to be, but you certainly have what you wished for at Galenor’s party in Newport.”
“What did I wish for?”
“You didn’t want me to forget you. No matter what happens, I will always remember you and what you did for us.”
“Thanks.” He bent to kiss her cheek softly. “Goodbye, Shalyrie.”
King Telthan Almorin and all his men departed that afternoon with a promise that the king would return in time for their wedding. He had much to do, beginning with the search for Olthorin. Even Lorelei had left with the king. All the Almorians were gone, except for Gareth, who remained behind as the newly appointed Almorian Ambassador to the Yalkur. But Shalyrie no longer felt alone. The Yalkur were her people now. Only one thing remained. Everyone gathered in the courtyard. Ren was there, and Hannal, and High Priestess Allemi, and so many others that the space was crowded with people. They all walked down through the city to the stables, and they rode out toward the lake. The valley around them was beautiful, and the white mountain peaks shone in the sun. They stopped on the shore of the lake.
Kalleck beckoned her forward.
Shalyrie went to the edge of the water and took off her boots. He took her hand and gripped it reassuringly. Silent black figures filled in around them. Their eyes watched her, and she could see nothing of their faces, but she felt their love and acceptance.
Kalleck spoke.
“Shalyrie Almorin, do you swear to protect and defend the Sacred Waters of the Yalkur, to keep them secret from all those outside our own people, to protect this valley, and to be faithful unto death to our people?”
“I swear,” she said, “I will be faithful.”
High Priestess Allemi stepped forward. She wore intricate silver jewelry at her neck and wrists. She was in a long black gown made of a heavy fabric finely woven. The collar was trimmed with feathers. For a moment, Shalyrie thought of Farak and felt a surge of fear, but she swallowed it down as Allemi stood before her, grave and dignified. She brought up a tiny jar, removed the lid, dipped one finger inside and brushed the oil across Shalyrie’s forehead. The oil had a strong distinctive scent that reminded Shalyrie of pine trees in the sunshine. “You now wear the asmaryth oil, as do all of us on the day of rebirth. You will be born again, bound to this land and its people. Be one with the land, and enter the Sacred Lake to begin your new life,” Allemi said.
Shalyrie walked slowly into the lake. The water was very clear, and the bottom was covered with small, smooth pebbles. It was unbelievably cold. She gritted her teeth and went deeper. The icy water crept higher. It reminded her forcibly of being lost in the mountain river, where she had been so cold she had thought she would die. But she couldn’t linger. It was time. She took a deep breath and ducked completely under. For a moment she waited, holding her breath, and then she came up again with a gasp.
It was done.
The Yalkur stood, silent and faceless. Watching her. She came out of the cold lake and wiped the water from her eyes.
“You are Yalkur,” the High Priestess said, and she pulled back her veil and Shalyrie could see her smile.
Kalleck was there, waiting, watching her. He unfastened his mask and took it off, then pulled off his hood. His eyes were so familiar already, but for him to actually remove his mask voluntarily made her insides turn over. He had heavy brows over his dark eyes. His strong jaw was covered with the dark stubble of a beard, and she could see his atoh. The graceful lines curved from his forehead along the side of his face down to his jaw. She had seen him when Galenor took his mask by force, but that memory was heavy with despair and pain. Now she could look at him. No one was going to hurt him anymore. He offered his hand and she took it. She looked up into his eyes and he smiled at her. It was the first time she had ever seen him smile.
Her heart melted. She already knew she loved him. She wasn’t sure how she got there, but suddenly she was in his arms.
He kissed her.
All the people watching disappeared for a moment. There was only him, only Kalleck. He wasn’t going to hide from her any more. There were no more secrets. She was no longer shut out, doomed to wait on the outside. There were no more barriers.
Gradually, she realized that everyone around them was beginning to laugh, and she pulled back from him. Everyone surrounded them. Shalyrie looked at all the faces, and they were all smiling, welcoming and accepting. They congratulated her, surrounding her and Kalleck and hugging them both.
Allemi held them both close, and then dear sweet Kellji did the same. She was just as stunning unveiled as Shalyrie had suspected she would be.
Second Guardian Hannal and his children were there, and Ren, and Addia and Tarkan, and so many others. They were her people now. With her hand in Kalleck’s, they started back to the city.
Thanks for reading War’s Ending. If you enjoyed reading this book, please leave a review on your favorite review site. It helps me reach readers who might enjoy more of my books.
Acknowledgments
First, I would like to thank my wonderful husband for loving and supporting me, and for always being there to bounce ideas off of, and my daughters for being fans and enjoying the process of creating a story. I am blessed to be surrounded by a wide network of support, and this project owes so much to family, friends and neighbors who have encouraged me and believed in me.
Thanks to Amy Walker for sharing your publishing experience and for giving me feedback on my work. I’m excited to see your next book.
I would like to give a huge thank you to Tara Alemany and Mark Gerber from Emerald Lake Books, for liking my work, and for putting so much time and care into getting it ready. They have done an amazing job of preparing this story for publication, and with the launch and promotion. I hope we can work on many more projects together!
I appreciate Blazej Szpakowicz for your feedback and excellent work on the editing. Thanks for reminding me of my grammar rules, which I am prone to forget as I get involved in a story, and for letting me know how much you liked the best moments of the story.
Thanks to Brian Halley of Right Think for the beautiful cover and many of the graphical elements in the book. You do stunning work.
And a
special thanks to all my readers for opening this book and enjoying it, and for allowing me to share a piece of myself. I look forward to many future adventures together.
About the Author
Author A.J. Park has embraced a lifelong passion for writing and reading. There is nothing better than a really good story, and she feels compelled to keep creating. Fantasy has always been her favorite genre, because it represents the world of imagination in fiction.
A.J. loves laughing and joking with family and friends. She enjoys meeting new people and learning and doing new things. She craves real-life adventures, climbing mountains, backpacking, rappelling, swimming in lakes, and snowshoeing. She also enjoys building furniture. She loves trees, sunshine, fresh air and shopping for outdoor gear, and she always eats her vegetables.
Her dislikes include poison ivy, soda, junk food, yard work, uncomfortable shoes and mosquitoes.
A.J. is from Northern Utah and is happily married to the father of her three beautiful daughters.
This author enjoys hearing from her readers, so if you’d like to write to her, visit emeraldlakebooks.com/ajpark.
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