Nathan frowned, unsettled by such aggrievement from someone he had only seen confidence from in the past. They had been best friends, still were in Nathan’s eyes, yet that didn’t stop Ramannon changing everything for the worse in both of their lives. Not only had Michael ruined what the people of Terratheist thought of him, but his body had been used to kill the king, someone who had been like a father to Nathan, and was an actual father to him. Things would never be the same between them, no matter how much they wanted them to be.
Nathan couldn’t imagine the pain he was going through and wished he could have delayed telling him until after he had recovered, like Aisic and Master Morrow had done with him. Maybe there was something in keeping the truth from people until they were ready. After all, if he knew he had been the heir of Avatasc, he never would have become who he was.
Yet something also told him that Michael would never be ready to hear about the war Ramannon had created in his skin. While Michael sobbed, Nathan quickly discussed it with the others. They agreed not to tell him the full story right now.
Yet, despite all of their grief, there was one thing to celebrate. The Second War of the Melkai was finally over.
Chapter 31: Peace
With the Melkai gone and Ramannon dead, the fighting stopped almost immediately. Many of the dead soldiers fell, revealing those who were merely possessed corpses, controlled by Ramannon just as he had controlled the dead beneath the chapel. Those who remained alive, most injured and bloodied, eagerly set off for home in search of their families. Soldiers threw down their weapons, the dawn sunlight making their blades glimmer against the grassland. Again, birds flew through a peaceful sky now empty of flying Melkai. Even the monsters from callers below had left so that only humans remained. The battalions that had been clustered together to stop themselves from being picked off by the Melkai separated, peeling off layer by layer like an onion in order to return home.
The horrific experience of the land being engulfed in Melkai for over an hour was enough to make the blood lust of any soldier run dry, quelling the conflict faster than a grand speech from any reigning monarch. Fighting monsters rather than men had dissipated their need for war. Nathan, Laine, and Kendra watched from the heights of the castle as the battle came to an end, the killing ending much faster than it had begun.
The three of them smiled at each other, turned, and walked to where Aisic’s body lay. They looked down at him with sorrow tugging at their hearts. The Scion of Akai was said to be a hero and he had definitely lived up to his reputation, but this time Nathan would make sure the people of Terratheist would remember him.
“He looks so peaceful,” Kendra sighed.
Next to him lay the Kairen Sword, the magical weapon that had saved them all. However, as Laine bent down to pick it up, there was a flash of light, and it separated into two key-half necklaces. She picked up both and handed one to Nathan, an heirloom they would both pass down to their descendants until the time came that they would need to be combined once more to seal away the Melkai.
Nathan put his around his neck and only then registered the two Senadon warriors resting nearby, bloodied and battle-weary, along with their Melkai. Durian had a smile on his face, though Tarros had the same solemn look as always. Nathan thought he saw deep shadows in the creases of his old face, but it could have been a trick of the light.
“Hey, Nathan.” Durian gestured to his face. “You look like you’re holding your head a little higher now. What happened?”
“I guess I was feeling a little inferior to you before, but how can I feel inferior now?” He grinned. “I just sealed away a third-circle Melkai.”
“And in a way that would make even an Advanced Summoner envious.” Durian grinned back and playfully shoved him. “Don’t let it go to your head, Your Majesty.”
Nathan asked, “New Senadon was destroyed during the attack, wasn’t it?”
They nodded gravely.
Tarros cleared his throat. “Now that the war is over, we must return and rebuild. It will take a long time to reforge what was lost, but us Senadonians are a stubborn lot, and I have faith that, in the end, New Senadon will be greater than ever before.”
An idea came to mind. There was something Michael could do to both redeem himself and strengthen Terratheist’s cracked relationship with the Senadonians. Nathan walked over to his friend, crouching next to where he sat so he was on eye level with him.
“Michael, you should go with the Senadonians and help rebuild New Senadon. I think they will need your help more than anyone. If you help to rebuild their home, it will also help rebuild our broken ties with them.”
It would take a long time for the people to forget what Michael did. Until then, he would be seen as an enemy of the people. He would need a fresh start, one that could only be achieved after a long absence and a triumphant return.
Michael looked up at him, his deep set eyes gaining meaning and determination once more. He frowned and nodded fiercely.
Nathan grinned. “I’ll keep the throne safe as your steward until you get back and feel you are up to reclaiming it. Believe it or not, after being King of Avatasc for a while, I’ve actually gotten the hang of politics.”
Michael’s eyebrows pulled inward. “Then who will rule Avatasc?”
Nathan turned to Laine, still grinning. “I think I know someone who would make a perfect queen.”
Laine’s mouth dropped, but he knew this was what she had wanted. She bowed her head wordlessly.
Michael nodded. “Very well, I shall go to New Senadon and rebuild their kingdom with your comrades. However, even after that, I would not deem myself fit to take the crown.” Nathan shook his head, but then noticed Michael smiling himself. “On the other hand, I think I would make a good general when I get back.”
Nathan put his hand out. “It’s a deal,” he said as the once-prince grabbed his hand, and he helped him up to his feet.
They made their way back toward the other four, all looking solemn in the silence. Nathan stood before the Senadonians.
“This is Michael, trueborn heir of Terratheist.” He gestured to him. “He’s a strong worker and an even better leader. I’m sending him with you two as an emissary and to help you rebuild New Senadon.”
“The heir?” Tarros looked shocked, but then he nodded. “I see. Very well then.”
Durian’s eyes lit up, as though this gift of the kingdom’s heir was the sign that he was looking for. Not only has the war ended, but Terratheist was finally making up for the near-genocide of their people nearly five hundred years ago.
“No one will attack New Senadon under my rule,” Nathan added. “You have my word.” He looked at the others. “Together, I think it’s possible to create true peace and make it last.”
The two Senadonians nodded, and Nathan led them back to the castle to change clothes, clean up, and eat a meal. After sleeping off their wariness, with the sun rising behind them, they made to leave. Without even a goodbye, they left the castle and started their journey back to their own country over the Jile Mountains, Michael following them with new ambition and hope in his life.
Nathan had the feeling that when he saw him again, Michael would be the greatest general Terratheist had ever known.
* * *
Nathan put Kendra in charge of aiding the wounded and rounded up callers to hunt down any Melkai that remained. A few days passed, and Nathan and Laine slept in the castle. They went for meals at an inn every evening, the food warming them.
Kendra was glad to catch up with everyone; however, without Aisic, the original group she wanted was incomplete. Despite this, she’d had a very exciting time in Terratheist with each event she had gone through climaxing at the Melkai invasion which, with her healing gifts, made her a hero among the people.
She told her story like she did all her stories, in full detail, and afterward asked for their own. Nathan let Laine tell her side first. As Laine told her version of what happe
ned, he realized he was still staring at Kendra, and she was looking back at him. Laine appeared to pick up on this too.
“Laine, why are you looking at me like that?” Kendra asked, realizing she had been caught.
“No reason really.” Laine looked away and took a drink from her mug. “I just thought I could see another future queen somewhere in the room.”
They both blushed at this.
“Nathan, you seem to be just as enamored with this city’s new hero as everyone else here. Am I wrong?”
Nathan broke his gaze and drank deeply. “Yes—well—I . . .”
“Maybe you two should spend more time together,” Laine said. “After all, if you’re seen helping people with the savior of the war, you would gain their support as well.”
Kendra’s eyes lowered to the table. “I’m alright with that if you are, Nathan.”
Nathan smiled and nodded, cheeks still slightly flushed. “Alright, ah, it’s a date then.”
* * *
Nathan wrote up a letter giving all his power and kingly rights in Avatasc to Laine with no exceptions to the lords that may oppose her reign before marriage.
He wrote the letter on a scroll, sealed it with his insignia in wax, and gave it to her. She had packed her gear and was preparing to leave.
“Everything you need to know about running the kingdom is in that scroll,” he said as he handed it over. “But don’t hesitate to ask our mother about some of the details. In all honesty, I’m sure she’s been doing the job in my absence.”
“Thank you,” she said solemnly. “Now that that tyrant has been dethroned, we can bring some civility back to the kingdom. I suppose I should thank you for that.”
Nathan shrugged, noticing she was avoiding using Kissick’s name. “It was mostly Aisic and your mother who did it. I just played a part.”
She smiled and patted his shoulder. “You’re too modest, Nathan.”
“Well . . .” Nathan said nervously as the sun rose with his sister’s departure.
After seeing her memories, Nathan could tell why she wanted to return home quickly. Now that Kissick was dead, she could finally let her walls down and talk to her mother on equal footing, no longer afraid that she would be punished by him. Nevertheless, it had been less than a week after Laine had found out they were brother and sister, and he was sad to see her go. Even now, as they walked, he could feel himself slowing his pace, knowing that once they reached the edge of the courtyard, they would have to part ways.
They made their way to the cobblestone pathway leading from the castle; the wind was cool, just as they had remembered it being from their shared memory. Unlike when they had left each other as children, this time they were aware of the significance.
She laughed. “Who would have thought when we first met that we would be ruling the lands together, let alone as brother and sister?”
Nathan looked down and smiled. “Yeah . . . when I first left, I didn’t think I had any family left. I’m glad I was wrong.”
She nodded. “Me too.”
Despite the drag of her backpack, she moved in and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her.
“Say hello to our mother for me.” Nathan knocked on his head once, a trait he had picked up from Kendra. “I forgot to before leaving.”
Laine nodded and began to set off.
Behind she could, they heard the sound of running footsteps, and despite wanting to leave before she had woken up, Kendra came dashing toward them. She collided with Laine in an embrace, but before she could say anything, she demanded of her, “You better come and visit again soon!”
Laine smiled. “I will, I promise.”
Keening at her friend’s reluctant departure, Kendra let her go, and they parted ways.
Before she made it to the stairs, Laine turned and called, “I’ve been meaning to ask, have you tried summoning Taiba again yet?”
Nathan looked down, lips drawn in a grim line. “I was kind of avoiding it in fear that he might not be bonded to the glove anymore.”
Laine raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Well then, give it shot.”
Nathan reached his gloved hand out and willed his friend to appear. There was a flash of light and suddenly Taiba stood, not trembling, but jumping at his side with tongue wagging. Nathan couldn’t help but pat Taiba. He hadn’t seen him in weeks. Laine laughed as she strode down the stairs toward the city gates. With the sun at her back, she left Terratheist for Avatasc, Terachiro still within the pact item resting on her shoulders.
If you loved
War of Kings and Monsters,
check out The Dream State Saga by Christopher Keene beginning with
Stuck in the Game!
Acknowledgments
A few years back, I wrote two books set in the same fantasy world, 500 years apart, one with monster battles and one without. So, when I pitched both books to my project manager, Emma Hoggan, I wasn’t surprised when the book with monster battles was chosen. Funnily, the reason it has monster battles in the first place was because my partner, Hayley, read the first book and said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, “It’s alright… needs more monster battles.” Needless to say, I acknowledge both of these women and their enjoyment of monster battles for this book getting published.
About the Author
Growing up in the small town of Timaru, New Zealand, Christopher Keene broke the family trend of becoming an accountant by becoming a writer instead. While studying for his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Canterbury, he took the school’s creative writing course in the hopes of someday seeing his own book on the shelf in his favorite bookstores.
In his spare time, he writes a blog to share his love of the fantasy and science fiction genres in novels, films, comics, games, and anime (fantasyandanime.wordpress.com).
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