As one of the Triumvirate, her seat was directly to Layna’s left – Gryffon being on her right – and she sat herself daintily into it. She leaned in and whispered in Layna’s ear, “I have good news, but I don’t know if you want me to tell you here.” She glanced around at the multitude of people around them.
“They are all trustworthy,” Layna assured her, sitting forward, eager for good news.
“Well,” Lady Aria said mischievously, reminding Layna more of the gossiping lady she had once known more than the political leader she had become, “Between Phoenix’s demonstration healing the people, and the display of power that you showed to wash clean the blood-magic from the beasts, I don’t think we could stop the merger now if we wanted to. The people are fairly demanding for us to unite with you.” She was smiling broadly and Layna couldn’t help but smile back.
“And the logistics?” They had been going back and forth now for some time about how such a merger would be possible, and Layna found it hard to believe that every single one of the Ieldran would suddenly agree to it – which is exactly what was needed by Treymayne law for a change so drastic.
“Phoenix is the obvious choice for our symbol, and the people already believe in her. It would be fitting to announce her as the ruler of both our countries, and until she is old enough to create her own Council – out of people from both Gelendan and Treymayne – the councils we have now will rule together with the Triumvirate and you two acting as the deciding votes as we previously discussed. Then, once she is of age, the merger will be official and there will only be one larger country.”
Katya spoke up. “The tribes will be loyal to Phoenix as well. They would like to eventually re-enter the country, and also feel it would be fitting to have this event coincide with Phoenix’s reign. Part of Kali’s plan to manipulate the tribes into kidnapping her was to convince them all that she was a ‘chosen one’ that would usher in a new era of peace and unity between us. Though it has been shown that this was only a ruse to garner their assistance, they can’t help but still feel that it was in part true. Especially after all she has done. They also hope that you might continue your cleansing program up towards them in the meantime, and that the education program will help us to learn about one another so that a compromise can be made. Each tribe has discussed it and hopes that you might be amenable to the idea of them continuing to self-govern, but adhering to the rules of the nation as a whole, and that they would then benefit from your protection and cleansing, and you would benefit by their unique resources and knowledge.”
Layna felt tears welling up at the outpouring of support that came from all directions at these announcements, and she was glad when the music of the parade started, and all the people’s attention was drawn towards the street.
There was a magnificent representation of a dragon, part prop and part magic, blasting the audience with imagery of ‘fire’ – really just pieces of confetti. There was a rider atop the dragon, shouting the beginning of the speech.
“Today is a momentous day!” He roared and the dragon’s head swung around to face Layna and the others on the dais. Confetti swept over them, and Layna closed her eyes, letting the pure happiness she felt at this moment wash over her. It was a momentous day indeed.
EPILOGUE
Layna and Gryffon stood in the corner watching Phoenix play with her new toys. They had just had her fifth birthday party which was attended by Katrina and Aaron’s son who was slightly older than little Phoebe. Her name was now associated with so many official things, they preferred to use her nickname, Phoebe, at personal events. Katya and Hunter had also had a son soon after they had helped her divert the disaster that could have been, and he was also in attendance.
There had been many births the last few years, proving that the reversal of the spell had been successful and that there were no remnants of the original spell left upon them even as the more obvious Bricrui was cured. She and Gryffon still felt rather guilty for having had to take away Phoenix’s power in order to do so, but she didn’t seem to be affected by it much at all. Layna supposed it was hard to miss something you never realized you had. There were some questions, however, when she or Gryffon performed a spell with the use of magic, asking why she could not also do this, but they answered simply that not everyone could use magic the same way.
Strangely, though the spell which had reversed the curse had died as it completely ate away her talent, the healing properties Phoenix had obtained from the Dakelh water used in the spell seemed to have stayed with her somewhat. Though the results were not nearly as drastic as when it was still in full force, it always seemed that when one of her friends was ill, after they spent time with her, they would suddenly be feeling much better. Layna supposed it was the silver lining to have lost her talent, though the phenomenon couldn’t be explained, either by her and Gryffon or by their royal mages.
Even with this special ability, Layna felt guilty for the sacrifice. She raised a hand self-consciously to her mark. The blood-red color which had appeared when she had been forced to make a sacrifice of her own to complete the spell had faded somewhat, but not disappeared. She still woke to nightmares on occasion, but Gryffon was always there to help her through the guilt. It was fitting that it was her daughter who would mark the beginning of a new era. Her perfect little daughter.
As Layna watched, Phoenix removed herself from the other children and went to her tea set; it was her favorite toy and she spent hours with it hosting imaginary tea parties. She had quite the imagination which included several imaginary friends. Phoenix poured the pretend tea for herself and two others. Then she plopped herself down and started rambling on to her two ‘guests’.
Layna couldn’t help but smile. Things had finally turned around; after everything that had happened, they were now able to carry on more normally. The last traces of the Order and Telvani’s Faithful were completely erased. The Bricrui curse was no more, thanks to Phoenix’s sacrifice. The war with the bloodbeast horde was averted. Things seemed to be calming, the last remnants of the black aura of Nuko gone from the land.
Phoenix’s blaze on her temple caught her eye and Layna sighed, turning to Gryffon. “Between having been kidnapped and then cursed, the Three’s blessing didn’t seem to have helped her any,” she commented under her breath.
He smiled at her. “Perhaps it was more than you think,” he shrugged. “We had hoped that she would rise up like her name suggests and come out of the ashes to bring forth a new era devoid of the blackness that came before her. Perhaps the blessing was that she was the spark that was needed to light your reign, to burn out all the evil to make way for hers.” He poked her in the ribs good-naturedly, and she stuck out her tongue at him.
“Well, if I had known fate would take her name quite so literally, maybe I would have vetoed the name Phoenix and insisted we name her something like Harmony or Joy instead.”
“That’s what you get, I guess.”
They both looked over at their baby girl and smiled.
*
Little Phoenix put a cookie on the plate in front of her and grabbed two more for the two spots on the other side of the table facing her.
“Here you go,” she said to the guest on the right, placing the treat on the plate, “One cookie for you.” She hesitated before setting the other one down, bringing it back to her mouth and taking a large bite out of it before putting it on the other plate. She spoke around the mouthful of goodness, “And half a cookie for you, I know you’re on a diet.”
- Thank you, Phoenix, - said the voice in her head, - That’s very thoughtful of you. –
Phoenix beamed with pride and glanced over her shoulder at her parents who stood watching her in the corner. She got up from the table and ran over to them, hugging them both around the legs.
“Thank you!” she exclaimed happily, “This is the best day ever!”
* * *
BOOKS BY LAURA R COLE
The Eleventh World Saga:
BloodRunes Trilogy
Unleashed Fury
Those Who Fear the Darkness
Leoht
The Forgotten Trilogy
Serpent’s Lair
Bricrui
Light the Reign
Connect with the author: www.laurarcole.com
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Light the Reign (The Forgotten: Book 3) Page 22
