“I lived life as a mercenary, then as a rebel,” Cedric began. “I know nothing of this Bravoure, and I have an entire history to learn.” He took a few steps toward the closest weapon rack and discarded his sword. “David’s gone. Diego’s gone. The Resistance is gone. Besides Jules and you, I have no one else.”
Ahna felt the same. They were three lost souls in a strange land, and they could never go back to the way things were. But did they really want to? Now was the chance to rebuild Bravoure together. They could have a life here. Ahna was so caught in her own thoughts that she had not noticed Cedric approaching her. He came within an arm’s distance before addressing her again.
“I was responsible for an army of undead or whatever creatures those were,” he said in a lower tone. “I destroyed this place—”
“No,” Ahna interrupted. She took a step forward and placed her hand on his warm chest. He towered above her, his eyes delving into her purple gaze. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“It always seems to be,” he said and smiled, remembering the last time he had told her those exact same words. Ahna and her talk of magic and things he did not understand was what intrigued him about her. It was part of what made her so fascinating.
Ahna stared at his olive skin gleaming with sweat. She contemplated the contrast of her blue fingers as she brushed them against his chest. It was hypnotizing.
Cedric’s voice brought her senses back. “Jules told me what you did to save me,” he said, still smiling. “But I’m sure that’s not half of it.”
“He has no idea,” Ahna whispered, still caught in her trance. Jules had no idea how far she had actually gone.
“But I do. I can feel that too.”
She was silent. She knew how deeply he was looking at her, so she did not dare look back. She knew what would happen then. She wanted it so badly to happen and cursed herself for it.
He took her hands in his. “We’re from another era, Ahna. We both don’t belong here. So let’s make the best of it.”
Ahna flinched, Cedric was wrong. They belonged here. She wanted him to know that, to realize that this place was exactly where they should be. She would make him understand so he could heal the pain that obviously lingered in his heart. She vowed here and now that she would make him see that his place was here. But for now, Ahna needed her share of healing. And Cedric’s presence was the best medicine in town.
Her lips opened slightly. “Is there anything I can do?” She raised her gaze to him.
There was a new darkness hidden in the depth of his eyes, or maybe it had always been there. The long-lost shadow of the dragon in him, perhaps. Was he even still Dragonborn? The thought to the contrary crossed Ahna’s mind. Maybe not. Or maybe that part of him had also been undone. She did not wish to ask about it now. Cedric did not seem eager to talk. What else could it be?
Cedric could not restrain himself anymore. Ahna was like a beacon of light in the darkness. She was his only certainty, his only anchor, or he would lose his mind for good. The horrors he could feel… He did not tell her about them because he did not wish to worry her. But he could feel it, here and now, what he had been through and what he had become. Ahna was the only thing he was sure of. He leaned in and took her lips. Her touch sent bolts of lighting down his veins. An emotional burst that spread from his lips to his heart and everything else. She was all he wanted.
She opened her lips and welcomed him in. All she felt at that moment was all she wanted. All she needed. Yes! Their place was here. They belonged here because Bravoure needed them. It was their chance at having a home. She had to make him realize that. She kissed him back fully, moving to match his cadence. He pressed her further against the wall and relished tasting her like he was savoring life.
That kiss made him feel alive. He remembered their first kiss like it was yesterday; it was but a few months ago in his mind. But he also felt like he had missed her for decades. That dissonance made him so confused and disoriented, but right now, when he slid his hands underneath her shirt, everything made sense. She let him touch her skin, her back with its hundreds of scars, because she was not scared of it anymore. He could see her for who she really was, and he accepted every part of her.
Cedric released her, knowing he could not have her here. A sparkling ring of purple remained around her dilated pupils. Her chest heaved. She was waiting for him to make the next move. If he didn’t, she would not leave him a choice. She would rid him of his breeches herself and pull him in. Cedric understood that look in her eyes. He clasped his hand around her wrist and led her to him. He knew exactly where he would lead her next.
Epilogue
Cedric woke in the middle of the night from his regular nightmares. Darkness clashing with light. Screams of horrors and terrors in the streets of Bravoure. Shadows and horned faces judging him. He had attributed these visions to his two-hundred-year haze and his creativity. The usual remedy was to get out of bed and drench his face in ice-cold water.
But tonight, he was not alone. In his room in the barracks, the blue elf slept silently beside him. She was bare and lay on her side, her back toward him. The oil lamp beside him was still lit, and he could see in its flickers the contours of scars on her skin. He felt for her, knowing he too bore the same scars of war. He and Ahna were one and the same, and their bond stretched further than the physical realm.
Cedric slid out of bed silently so he would not wake her. He winced a little when he felt an itch on his arms. Scratch marks decorated his skin, inciting a smirk on his face. What a night they had just spent… Cedric took the lantern and brought it by the bucket of water in the bath area. He cupped some of it in his hands and splashed his face, scrubbing the nightmares away. He rubbed his eyes before opening them and looking into the mirror on the wall.
What he saw next frightened him to the core. He gasped and instantly silenced himself. A creature stood behind him. A dark creature of fangs and horns. It had no ill intent, but it stared at him nonetheless. Cedric wanted to address it, but that would wake Ahna. This was all in his mind. A remnant of his nightmare. He needed to shake his head and let it go.
But the creature remained. The more Cedric looked at it, the closer he felt to it. Like it was part of him somehow. As Cedric moved, the creature moved with him. It was his own shadow. Cedric took one last glance at himself, and that vision sent more shivers down his spine. His eyes were not blue but darker than black, and his pupils oozed like blood. He drenched his face again in water to clear his mind. Once he looked in the mirror again, he only saw his reflection and nothing else. The shadow was gone. He seized the lantern again and walked away.
Cedric needed some air, and perhaps a drink. It was not too late yet, so the Gold Monk, or what was left of it, would still be open. Workers needed their ale too! He would leave Ahna to sleep. He sat briefly beside her and caressed her face, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. She wriggled a little but still seemed sound asleep. He leaned in to steal a kiss.
“I’ll be back, bella,” he whispered.
She mumbled something he did not understand. Between sleep and wake, Ahna was at peace. She had heard Cedric’s voice and her heart fluttered. The flickering light of the lantern was disturbing her sleep, though. Ahna spontaneously drew a wave with her hand at the lantern, and it burned out. Cedric chuckled—that was a nice magic trick.
He placed the lantern on the bedside table and stood. He put on a linen shirt, strapped his leather cuirass, and wrapped himself in a cloak. He walked out of the room, locking the door behind him. He had not forgotten to take the Cursed Bow with him.
It did not take long before he reached the central plaza where he could find the Gold Monk, his favorite tavern of then, his favorite tavern of now. Part of the building was still under construction, but the main area welcomed capital citizens. They were closing in about an hour, so he could do with a quick shot of goldrain rum.
He sat at the booth furthest back, cloaked, sipping on his silver goblet. The las
t few customers that remained had barely seen him. It was not like they would recognize him, but Cedric still felt strange that he could roam the streets freely. He was still accustomed to the constraints of rebel life.
He was about to leave when a man walked up to his table. The man was bald and looked intimidating. For others, at least. Not for Cedric.
“Can I help you?” Cedric eventually asked, since the man was as mute as a stone.
Another man walked up to him. It could have smelled like trouble, but there was something else at play. It was as if Cedric could sense it.
“You look like a mercenary,” the first man uttered.
They wore farmer’s clothing, but they were obviously something else. Something that reeked of the Underground, a place Cedric had once called home.
Cedric took one last sip and returned his cup to the table. He cleared his throat and looked straight at them. They flinched.
“Who’s asking?” Cedric posed.
The man seemed to hesitate, but he finally mustered the courage to respond. “Someone who’s willing to pay.”
Cedric chuckled silently. He had not expected life to lead him back here, in a tavern with apparent thieves wanting to hire him. That was the life of fifteen-some years ago for him. Well, two hundred years for them. Cedric took a deep breath, considering what he should do next. He thought of Bravoure and his duties here. He thought of the woman in his bed, the one he could give the world for. But he also thought of the shadow he had seen in the mirror. The one that had felt like his own. Cedric turned his chin to the man and smirked. The night was definitely young.
Afterword
What a ride! Tempest of Bravoure has met its end. It is time for our heroes to settle down and take a long break, they deserve some peace and quiet.
To those who died, either for the rebellion or for Bravoure’s fate, you shall be remembered. Your names are already written in Terra’s history books, and your song will still echo for centuries to come.
To Ahna, may you find your happiness. You’ve been through so much, get some rest, and follow your heart. You still have lifetimes ahead of you, use them to heal and do better.
To you, dear reader, thank you for taking this journey with me. It might be the end of this chapter, but it is most certainly not the end of the countless Terran adventures to come. You know what they say: the show must go on.
Did you like this book? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Honest reviews go a very long way for us authors. I’d be eternally grateful if you left some words about what you thought of this story on your favorite retailer. Since you’ve just finished the series, you can leave independent reviews on each book, or review the series as a whole.
May your life be filled with dreams and your dreams be filled with love,
Valena
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank some precious people who were part of this wonderful journey:
My mind-twin and best friend, Janina, who also found inspiration on Terra.
Yuliya, who’s been here from Day One and has traveled with me far beyond Bravoure.
Shen and Elise, who are still here.
Wendy and Niels, who couldn’t wait for this book.
Vincent, who’s already eager for my next project.
My editor, Jake, who made the Tempest of Bravoure series even more awesome than it already was.
And you, dear reader, for taking this journey with me.
About the Author
Valena is an emerging author with countless tales to come. Set on a mission to refresh traditional fiction with diverse characters, she likes to fill her stories with powerful heroes and heroines usually underrepresented. Whether it's from a spaceship or riding a dragon, a fate-of-the-world scenario is what drives Valena to write. She might be into computers, but coding is most certainly not her only hobby. As a passionate Dungeon and Dragons player, Star Trek/Wars/gate fan, and lover of gaming music, she’s had all the sources she needed to invent alternate realms that derive from all we know about life, the universe, and everything.
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