by C. R. Pugh
“What? But … but you’re the Commander! You have to go. What if they -”
Thorne pulled me close and halted my ranting with another kiss. “The Warriors I chose are extremely capable.”
My heartbeat quickened and my fingers clung to Thorne’s shirt. I really was pathetic. “Stop kissing me while I’m trying to argue. You make me forget my thoughts.”
“I like when you forget your thoughts,” he said with a silly grin.
I slapped my hands to my hips. “Well … why are you saddling your horse if you’re not going?”
Thorne wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “You and I are going somewhere else.”
“Where are we going?”
He leaned down and kissed the bridge of my nose. “It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises.”
“You’ll like this one, little warrior. Trust me.”
We walked out of the barn together, his horse plodding along behind us. Thorne paused when we reached the entrance and looked over his shoulder. His eyes looked haunted as he let them wander the stables that were only six months old. I knew he was thinking about Gunter.
Thorne had never been one to elaborate, so I’d had to pull the story from Tallon and Kemena. They told me in confidence what had happened to the barn – and to Gunter. I was grateful that Thorne’s friend had been loyal to the end.
Thorne straightened his shoulders and marched out of the barn toward the main road, leading his horse by the reins.
“Are we going to Ahern?” I asked as we strolled through the pine trees.
Thorne shook his head. “We will visit Kaelem soon. But not this week.”
We broke through the trees to find a large crowd out on the main road. A great many citizens scurried around, helping the Warriors pack food and supplies into one of the two wagons that always made the journey. The two wagons were lined up with a horse harnessed to each one. I noticed right away that the cage on the second wagon had been removed.
Thorne had fought for that change. Exiles wanting to be saved would come willingly. No one would be forced. Since Peton was no longer in the business of trading captives for weapons, the cage was no longer necessary.
Brock and Tallon were preparing to leave, along with several other veteran Warriors. Brock had been determined to keep fighting. His return to active duty had been in no small part due to Kemena’s healing expertise, Thorne’s training, and Tallon’s unwavering support. The blacksmith in Peton had constructed a leather sleeve that held a blade on the end for him to wear over his wrist. It took the place of the hand he’d lost six months ago.
Max was checking the wagons and horses with Dustine by his side, her battle axes strapped to her back. Owen spoke quietly with them as he readied his own mount. There were even a few rookies heading out to the Valley, Tameron being one of them. He was nervously checking and rechecking his weapons. A very pregnant Kemena and Aaron, Tameron’s brother, were standing nearby, trying hard not to fret over him.
“Wow,” I murmured to Thorne. “There are a lot more Warriors going on the hunt this time. Do I count twelve?”
Thorne smirked. “They have more to do this time than rescue exiles and avoid those Yellow-eyed Sabers you set free.”
I rolled my eyes. “The Sabers hunted us last time because Wolfe was giving them my blood to chase.”
“Humph,” Thorne grunted. “I’ve ordered them to carry their firearms at all times to be safe.”
Raising an eyebrow, I said, “So who is leading the hunt?”
“Owen and Brock will be in charge,” he murmured, sadness creeping into his voice.
Thorne had not named a second in command since we’d been home. Pierce would have been his first choice and Archer would have likely been next. Their losses, along with Gunter, had been hard on him. Each time someone pressed him about naming a Warrior as his second, he would withdraw to be alone. I believed he wanted to choose Brock to be his second, but Brock was still just sixteen. Owen was older and more experienced. Perhaps he meant to have them both take over the position.
There seemed to be a renewed sense of loyalty to Thorne since he had returned to stay, according to Tallon. Perhaps it was because Thorne had proved his worth in the battle against Wolfe, or it could be that the Warriors appreciated him more now that he was back. Whatever their reasons, I was grateful that Thorne had been given a second chance to hold such a place of honor.
Brock approached us with Tallon by his side, holding his hand. Brock had officially asked the Elders for permission to court Tallon. Thorne and I couldn’t be more pleased.
“It seems strange that Pierce and Archer won’t be with us,” Brock said, frowning.
“Or Gunter,” Max added. He and Owen stepped up beside Brock.
Tameron, Aaron, and Kemena joined us as well.
I quirked an eyebrow at Thorne. “Why aren’t you going again?”
“Two of my favorite women are with child.” He kissed the back of my hand and winked at his older sister. “Kemena could go into labor any day now. I’m not leaving when both of you need me here.”
Kemena glanced back and forth between Brock and Thorne. “Why are so many Warriors going this time?”
“We promised to transfer the children and caretakers from the compound once spring arrived,” Thorne answered. “Kaelem will be bringing his own people to help transition them to each of our clans.”
“But not Terran?” I asked.
“Not yet,” Owen replied. “We plan to visit them and see if they will open their gates to us. They need allies now that Wolfe is gone.”
Thorne nodded. “We’re not sure how to go about finding each child’s birth-parents, but if we can, we will try. They will have a safe place to grow up either way.”
My heart twisted from talk of my old clan. I was elated that Thorne, Brock, and Owen were taking matters into their own hands. I had no desire to return to Terran since the Elders had rejected me. I also had mixed feelings about returning their children to them. Every part of me knew it was wrong for me to hold such a grudge. They were only doing what they’d been told under threat of punishment, but I hated to see those children returned to people that had given up their flesh and blood without a fight.
“Stop fretting over it, Ravyn,” Thorne whispered. “They will agree to it or not. Peton and Ahern will gladly take every one of those children and care for them, regardless of the Terran Elders’ decision.”
I nodded and sighed in relief. “If you want to get inside Terran more easily, find the generator inside the compound and turn off the electricity. You can let yourselves inside the gate.”
Owen raised a brow at Thorne. “Are you sure Ravyn shouldn’t go with us? It would help us to know where that generator is.”
“Don’t encourage her,” Thorne growled at him. “You’ll manage just fine on your own.”
I wagged my finger at both Owen and Brock. “And once you get to Terran, don’t let the Elders make the decisions for the families.”
Thorne grabbed my hand. “They’ve already thought of that, Ravyn. Stop lecturing them.”
Owen and Brock grinned.
Satisfied with their decisions, I began searching the crowds for my sister. “Where is Camellia? I thought she might be here.”
“I believe she is still in the hospital,” Kemena said. “She’s been a very enthusiastic student of healing.”
“I’m glad she found something she enjoys,” I said. “I was worried she was going to join the Warriors when we returned.”
“Oh, she’s still training,” Tallon added. “Just so she can defend herself if the need ever arises again.”
“She couldn’t have a better teacher than you, Tallon,” Thorne said, smiling at his younger sister. “Be safe. All of you.”
After a few warm hugs and slaps on the shoulder, the Warriors mounted up. Peton citizens cheered on both sides of the main road as they rode out of the gates into the meadow. Thorne and I waved until we couldn’t see them a
nymore.
Once the gates closed, Thorne gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He lifted me onto his saddle as if I weighed no more than a cloud and then mounted behind me. “There’s a place I’ve been meaning to take you. I’ve wanted to go since we returned six months ago, but the winter was too miserable to justify the journey.”
He gave his horse a gentle kick and steered the beast north into the trees and up into the foothills of Mount Asa.
Thorne had never taken me outside the village before. His mountain home was located somewhere up in the hills, but Tallon had explained that it had been destroyed by Wolfe’s soldiers. We’d been living in Elder Cadmar’s home now that it was vacant, and Tallon had moved into the barracks with the other female Warriors. Camellia had chosen to stay in the barracks with them as well, even though she wasn’t a Warrior. I had suggested she live with Thorne and me, but she hadn’t wanted to intrude on us newlyweds. She was still nearby and safe, surrounded by so many fighters. That was all that mattered to me.
We climbed up into the foothills on horseback. The forest was lush and green with new leaves. Daffodils, tulips, and dogwoods bloomed. Birds chirped back and forth on the highest boughs and squirrels scurried up and down the tree trunks.
Thorne pulled back on the reins as we entered a clearing. A large house had been burnt down to its stone foundation. Charred trees lined the edges of the clearing and only the stone fireplace and chimney still stood.
“Is this …?” I started to ask, gaping at the remains.
“This was my mountain retreat,” said Thorne. “Now that it’s springtime, I planned on rebuilding it, if … you wanted. I know it’s far from the village.”
The cabin was a mess. It was going to take a lot of work to rebuild, but once I dragged my eyes away from the ruins, I could see why Thorne loved this place so much. A tiered waterfall flowed down from the mountain behind the house. The water emptied into a pond that eventually spilled over another set of falls. Green sprouts were peeking out of the dirt and even a few of the trees that had been burned so badly.
Thorne sighed. “I know it doesn’t look like much right now."
I reached up behind me and placed my hand on his scarred cheek. “It’s beautiful.” Turning in the saddle, I smiled and kissed him. “Is this what you wanted to show me?”
He beamed down at me. “No, that’s not all.”
Thorne clicked his tongue and his stallion began to move at an easy walk again. We circled the rubble and followed the stream east, leading us deeper into the mountains. Soon, we left the trees behind for the rocky terrain of the mountain, though we didn’t climb to a higher altitude. The horse’s hooves crunched the rocks and pebbles, stumbling every now and again on the trail. Thorne never faltered. His confidence led me to believe that he had been this way many times. We passed through a small gorge between two steep peaks, and on the other side, Thorne pulled back on the reins again.
He kissed the back of my neck and whispered, “Close your eyes, Ravyn.”
Once I’d lowered my eyelids, Thorne’s mount continued on. The horse’s gait rocked me back and forth while Thorne held me firmly at the waist. An unfamiliar sound began to fill my ears behind the clip-clopping of his horse’s hooves on the rocky ground. It was a soft whooshing sound that echoed over and over again. The chilly spring wind blew across my face, flooding my nostrils with the smell of water and … was that salt?
I gasped when the horse abruptly stopped. “Are we there?”
“Yes. You can look now, love.”
Taking a shaky breath, I opened my eyes. I was temporarily blinded by the sun shining brightly overhead. Once my eyes adjusted, I inhaled sharply. Thorne had brought me to the edge of a great cliff on the eastern side of the mountain. The sky was a clear blue, barely a cloud was in sight. Below us, a blue-green, watery blanket spread all the way to the horizon, sparkling under the morning light. Nearer to the shore, the water rolled toward the mountain, crashing onto the sandy beach again and again.
“Oh … my,” I breathed.
“This is the Fairuza Sea. I’ve never brought anyone to this place. Not even Gunter.”
Thorne slid from the saddle and helped me dismount. He tried to pull me closer to the edge, but I didn’t budge. My throat tightened up and my stomach flip-flopped inside me.
“I’m fine right here,” I choked.
Thorne grinned. “Are you afraid of heights?”
“I didn’t know until now. I’ve only ever climbed trees.”
Thorne moved to stand behind me and wrapped his arms around my middle. “What do you think? You told me once that you’d always longed to see the ocean.”
“It’s incredible.”
“We’ll get to work on the cabin this week. I want it finished as a gift for you and our child.” Thorne’s hand rested on my flat belly.
I linked my fingers with Thorne’s and gazed out at the choppy waves. “He’ll love it.”
“He?”
“Or she.”
“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Thorne. “As long as we’re together, I’ll be happy.”
***
In the days to come, I was happier than I could ever dream. I had my sister by my side and Thorne’s family had accepted me as their own. Thorne and I travelled to Ahern twice a year to visit Kaelem and his mother, who had become governor. We also visited Kieron’s grave. Thorne and I eventually joined the Warriors on the hunt again. I hated leaving our children behind and was always overjoyed and relieved when we returned, but I couldn’t stand to watch Thorne journey into the Valley without me. And I think he understood my need to see for myself that things were different inside the forest. We took time to visit the graves of my parents in Linwood and occasionally Laelynn’s grave when we could spare the time. They would always be in my heart.
Camellia and I never went back to Terran. The Warriors continued to try to form an alliance, but the Terran Elders were set in their ways. They kept their fences and their distance from everyone. As long as the Warriors continued to patrol the forest and eliminate threats, the Terran people would remain safe. That was enough.
Over the years, trees, ferns, and vines overtook the abandoned compound, hiding it from any who travelled that way. The story of an evil General would soon fade away into legend, for only the bravest Warriors travelled into the Old Sequoia Valley to rescue the exiled.
Luken and Kemena both eventually took their places as Peton Elders, just as Thorne had predicted. They, along with the other Elders, guided our clan into a time of peace and a continued bond with our friends in Ahern.
Though the danger to me seemed to have passed, I continued to train with the Warriors to remain vigilant. I climbed to the top of Peton’s wall every week to look out over the forest in the distance, waiting and watching, my fears ever-present in my mind. Rumors of Sabers came and went from the trade-runners. Tales of the dark-haired demon were long forgotten. The serum had been destroyed, but my nightmares continued.
Thorne was there every day, just as he’d promised, waking me from my terrible dreams and telling me he would always protect me. He reminded me that together, we had nothing to fear from the Old Sequoia Valley.
The End
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There are so many people I would like to thank who gave their time, talent, and support to the Old Sequoia Valley Series.
First, I must thank my editor, Maddy Glenn, whose knowledge, insight, and creative expertise has guided me through these three novels. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Christian Bentulan, you are an incredibly gifted artist. Your cover designs never stop drawing eyes to my stories. Thank you for taking my ideas and making them into works of art.
To the writer friends I’ve made during this journey: Rebecca Kenney, Shanna Swenson, Katie Backer, Marc Davis, Joe Kaiser, Patty Adams, Jacob Rundy, Jason Cormier, Sara Shamonsky, and m
any others of our writing community. Your encouragement and support of me and my series has been invaluable. I wouldn’t have made it to the finish line without you there pushing me. I love you all.
Thanks to my mom, who was the one who pushed me to publish in the first place, and the rest of my wonderful family who have continued to share my books with everyone they talk to. My husband, Bobby, and daughter, Caleigh, thank you for putting up with my many hours of writing and eyes glued to the computer.
Last, but not least, my readers. I hope you enjoyed Ravyn and Thorne’s journey to the bittersweet end.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
C.R. Pugh lives with her husband and daughter just outside of Dallas, Texas. Though she has always been an avid reader with a wild imagination, she never imagined she would become a writer. Mrs. Pugh is a former teacher who enjoys long-distance running, watching crime-fighting shows on television, and playing with her daughter.
Visit her online at https://authorcrpugh.wixsite.com/home.
