Mark of Fate

by K. T. Webb

  “I tend to agree with you. I believe the tradition should continue,” Legacy offered. “Beyond that, we should begin teaching our children where they came from and the dangers of returning to those dark days. The Kingdom of Man lost memories of the way Alderwood was intended to be. We cannot allow that to happen again.”

  A murmur of agreement followed her statement. It seemed all three kingdoms supported the proposal brought by the practitioners and the healing impaiso. The general feeling was that it would be better to uphold tradition and give people a reason to fight for the beauty Alderwood could contain while the wild magic ran free.

  “We do have one more suggestion,” Rowan said, gesturing for Arabella to take the lead.

  “We need more practitioners. From my understanding, Pallisaide was without a practitioner while I was imprisoned. Renata made many rounds through the kingdom and learned very few counties have a resident practitioner, let alone the individual towns,” Arabella explained. “Rowan, Eirny, and I would like to begin training practitioners to at least cover each county. Eventually, we would like to see one in every town.”

  “And after the baby is born, Eirny and I intend to travel north to see if we can find any other living impaiso. The impaiso were enslaved and killed off by the Kingdom of Man, but we hold out hope that there are more like Eirny in hiding. Along with training practitioners, we would like to repopulate the impaiso breed and encourage humans to work alongside these magnificent creatures,” Rowan offered.

  “There are indeed impaiso living beyond the northern borders,” Nikita revealed.

  Rowan and Arabella were elated at the news. Legacy could feel the excitement buzzing through those in the unification room. There would be so many changes in the coming days, months, and years.

  “The nature spirits would also like to lend expertise in the healing of all citizens of Alderwood,” Silverleaf added. “It was my kind that originally taught the first practitioners to use what nature has to offer in a healing manner. I trained Renata and her siblings.”

  Legacy was unable to hide the shock from her face. She knew Silverleaf recognized Renata, but she had no idea they had known each other for so long. No wonder the Shadow Mages knew they needed to find Silverleaf and destroy him. They had been alive when he was sitting on the throne in the early days.

  Even before knowing this, it made perfect sense to have all three kingdoms work together for the good of everyone whenever possible.

  “I support all of these suggestions. Presenting a united front in all areas will encourage our people to live in harmony,” Legacy agreed.

  The meeting ended with everyone preparing to tackle the tasks they had been given. Legacy could feel the positive energy coursing through the air. Nothing made her happier than knowing they would be working together in every way. The future was as bright as the pure light shining in each of them.

  A year and a half had passed since they returned to Pallisaide with the triad complete. Great strides had been made in integrating the kingdoms to living together. Legacy herself had overseen the installment of members of the other kingdoms into positions of power in each county. Other than a few minor uprisings, everything had gone smoothly.

  Silverleaf and Nikita had each worked tirelessly to find the members of their kingdoms that had been hidden from the rest of the world during their exile. Legacy found she loved living in a world where creatures, nature spirits, and humans lived and worked together.

  Alderwood was finally at peace, yet Legacy was about to face the scariest day of her life. Her wedding day.

  Marrying Evander was one of the most exciting and terrifying things she had ever done. As she stood in her bedroom, staring at herself in the mirror, Legacy could not help but laugh at the reflection staring back. It baffled her that she had accomplished so much in her life, faced horrifying enemies, and helped reunite her entire world, but she was shaking like a leaf at the thought of becoming someone’s wife.

  A knock at the door startled Legacy from her thoughts. She was far from ready, but she instinctively knew the person on the other side of the door was the one individual who could ease her troubled mind. Legacy crossed to the door and opened it a crack. Sure enough, she found herself face to face with Honor. On each hip, Honor held her two children. Legacy readily opened the door the rest of the way and took her nephew from her sister.

  “Good morning, babies. How did they sleep for you, Mama?” Legacy asked.

  Honor’s twins were a little over one year old and had recently began to toddle around the castle. It was a running joke amongst the inhabitants of the palace that the babies were born twins because one body could not contain the amount of energy they possessed.

  Legacy remembered the day they were born vividly. Arabella had told them there were two heartbeats in Honor’s womb when she was placed on bed rest. The revelation had been surprising to say the least. There had not been a set of twins born in Alderwood in recent history. In fact, no one reported having twins in their families for well over a century. Honor had been troubled by the news because she thought it meant her babies were somehow a result of the darkness they had faced during the earlier months of her pregnancy. Of course, Arabella and Rowan both assured her that was simply impossible. They had been twins from the moment they were conceived.

  Upon their arrival, their family was instantly enchanted by the beautiful little people Honor and Rowan brought into the world. Their son was born first. He came out faster than Arabella anticipated, and she nearly missed catching him. Legacy was the second person to hold the boy who became known as Arrow. Rowan still held his wife’s hand as she began to push the next baby out of her body. Legacy tried not to feel stressed at how difficult it seemed to be for Honor to guide the second child out of her birth canal. The Queen walked back and forth in the infirmary with Arrow, she bounced and soothed him in her arms. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

  Legacy reminded herself every day how close they were to losing Honor that day. The second baby was a girl, and she was willful and stubborn like both her mother and aunt. It took another few hours for her to make her entrance into the world, and because of the time gap between them, they were born on different days. Arrow came into the world just before that magical moment when one day ends and another begins. Journey, named for the struggle Honor had during labor, was born at the beginning of a new day. Both Honor and Legacy tried not to let it trouble them that there were so many unique situations surrounding the birth of the babies. When they had lived their whole lives anticipating evil to pounce on them around every corner, it was difficult to adjust their thought processes.

  Now, Arrow and Journey were healthy and adventurous toddlers. Legacy loved them equally, but Arrow always seemed drawn to her. Perhaps it was the immediate connection she had with him upon his birth, or maybe it was the bold personality he exhibited in every aspect of his life. Journey was a bit more relaxed than her brother. It was strange how the circumstances of their birth seemed to tie into their personalities as they grew. Arrow was a tornado of activity, where Journey was a quiet and reserved child. The two of them together were always trouble. Their parents had always hoped they would balance each other out. Instead, they instigated the curiosity in each other.

  “I swear to you, they do not need sleep. These two are going to be trouble when they figure out how to get out of their baby jail cells,” Honor huffed as she closed the door behind her.

  The twins were on the move as soon as the sisters set them down. Legacy watched them play and toddle around her room for a few seconds before she was brought back to the reality of the moment by Honor’s gasp.

  “You look amazing. That dress really is beautiful.”

  “Thank you, it doesn’t feel like me, though. I actually have on matching trousers and boots under it. I don’t know why I can’t just wear those,” Legacy scrunched her nose and arched one eyebrow.

  Honor laughed at her sister. “Because you ar
e the Queen.”

  “Well, I think the Queen needs help with her hair. I just do not generally wear it in any other way but down or braided,” Legacy admitted.

  “You are talking to the wrong girl. When I was young, Saige had to force me into her tent to be dressed up like a girl. I prefer your hair down, but I think I can help make it just a little different for you,” Honor set to work, braiding the hair at the top of Legacy’s head.

  “Arrow! Put that down,” Legacy scolded as her nephew held her crown in his chubby hands.

  The boy placed the silver crown upon his head as he had seen both his mother and aunt do many times. Journey giggled and clapped as he toddled around the room proudly. Legacy found it impossible to be upset with him as she laughed at his antics. He came to Legacy and reached for her to hold him. She hoisted him into her lap without hesitation. As soon as Honor was done with Legacy’s hair, Arrow reached up and tried to put the crown on the Queen’s head. Honor took it and completed his task.

  “There, you look amazing,” Honor beamed as Legacy rose to her feet.

  Legacy stared at herself in the full-length mirror mounted to her wall. Honor was right, Legacy had never seen herself look as elegant as she did at that moment. Soon, she would be walking into the ceremony that would bind her to Evander for life. Another knock at the door alerted the girls to the arrival of Maris, Daenera, and Arabella. The trio of women had taken it upon themselves to help fill the void left in the lives of both Legacy and Honor when they lost Renata.

  “Oh my! Legacy, you are breathtaking,” Arabella gasped.

  “Thank you, I had some help,” Legacy blushed and smiled warmly at her sister.

  “Are you ready? Your soon-to-be husband is waiting,” Maris told her.

  Legacy chose to have Honor and Arabella stand with her as witnesses to her commitment to Evander. They both wore simple gowns of royal blue to signify their representation of the Queen. For his witnesses, Evander chose Theon and Noble. So many were going to be in attendance that it seemed redundant to have official witnesses, but they wanted to follow the traditions that had been in place for years.

  As they prepared to leave her bedchambers, Daenera and Maris each scooped up one of the twins to allow the others to help Legacy maneuver her dress through the corridors. If she had not been so nervous, Legacy might have found the entire scene hilarious. Typical wedding dresses were designed to represent the bride’s status, the more layers that expanded the bell-shaped gown, the more prominent the bride was considered . . . and she was Queen.

  If it were up to Legacy, she would have foregone the dress altogether. The idea of marrying Evander in trousers and boots was far more appealing. By the time she reached the courtyard, Legacy had already had quite enough of the obnoxious gown.

  All that really mattered, though, was that Evander waited for her at the other end of a long aisle. With him were all their friends and the citizens of Alderwood who wanted to attend their wedding. Noble and Theon stood proudly beside her future husband. Noble had changed so much in the time since they defeated the Shadow Mages. He was still pale, and sometimes Legacy caught a glimpse of something darker pulsing through his veins, but he was just a normal little boy. At nine years old, he was still small, but the healthy environment surrounding him had done wonders. Theon had become a father to all of them; he worked with Gray and eventually agreed to become the head of the palace guard. Legacy often thought about the day she met him in the town square and thanked the wild magic for putting him in her path. Many things might have turned out differently if they had not met.

  Music began to play, signaling Legacy to begin her walk down the aisle. She took no more than two steps toward Evander when her dress caught on a chair. That was the tipping point for Legacy. Regardless of tradition, her pretentious dress was clearly too full. Evander grinned at her as he watched her yank the snagged portion of the dress from the chair. She took another step and practically felt the weight of expectation pulling her down. This felt so wrong. Legacy was the first Queen of the Kingdom of Man by blood, her very existence defied tradition. Now, it was time for her to show all of Alderwood that she would make her own mark on the world.

  Without taking another step, Legacy began to rip the layers off her dress. Each layer felt as though she was tearing away years of traditions that were meant to make women feel as though they needed to hide themselves to be accepted. Legacy was not that person; she never would be. Being Queen was about more than dresses and power, it meant the ability to lead her people with confidence.

  Evander was openly laughing; he was relying on Theon and Justice for support as he continued to find humor in her antics.

  Honor came to her sister’s aid with a hunting knife and smirked as she held it up in front of her and said, “Because you’re the Queen.”

  Legacy beamed a satisfied grin at her sister.

  The entire crowd was a mixture of support and bewilderment. The Queen was removing the bottom half of her wedding gown, and the Princess had a hunting knife hidden under her dress. Once they had finished hacking away at the dress, she was left wearing the trousers she had put on beneath the skirts and the bodice of the wedding dress. Honor stood, kicked the discarded layers to the side, and stowed her hunting knife in its holster around her thigh.

  The crowd was silent for a moment before erupting in cheers. Legacy grinned at her sister before Honor looped her arm through Legacy’s, and the two walked the remainder of the aisle together to join Evander. Justice smiled his approval at her actions before beginning the ceremony.

  “Never a dull moment with you, my love,” Evander said under his breath.

  “It was obnoxious. I would still be stuck to a chair if I had not freed myself from that atrocity.”

  Justice cleared his throat before beginning the traditional unity ceremony. “Face one another and join hands.”

  Legacy and Evander complied. Justice wrapped a golden rope around their hands. The Queen stared into the deep brown eyes of the man she would be spending her life with. The nerves she had experienced not even an hour ago had dissipated entirely. Legacy could not have been more ready to become this man’s wife.

  “Two stand before me prepared to become one. Two destinies woven together through the magic of Alderwood and given a new shape and direction. These two hearts have found one another against odds that were stacked to keep them apart. In the absence of a destiny guided by the wild magic, a soul found the one it was meant to be tethered to for eternity,” Justice paused to keep himself from choking up. Legacy tore her eyes from Evander to glance at her uncle.

  He had taken on a more significant role in her life after the events that led to the destruction of the Shadow Mages. Justice Mahuron had lost too much time in his life without feeling connected to the sister he once cherished. He moved from Goldenlark to Pallisaide without hesitation when Legacy asked if wanted to join her most trusted advisors. Now, he was helping her enter the next phase in her life.

  “One made of two cannot be torn apart when bound by destiny. Do you take one another in this life and thereafter?”

  “Yes,” both replied.

  “Do you vow to support each other in the pursuit of fulfilling the fate which has been assigned to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you ready to become husband and wife in the eyes of Alderwood?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then so it shall be, from this day forward and for all eternity.”

  As soon as he proclaimed them united for eternity, an intense heat radiated from the rope used to bind their hands. Legacy watched the rope as it emanated a blinding light and a burning sensation rushed through her hand. She and Evander maintained their grip on one another through it all. The light disappeared almost as soon as it began, and it left behind a gold circlet on each of their ring fingers.

  Justice had informed her that this wedding ceremony had once been standard practice in Alderwood but was abolished when the Ki
ngdom of Man decided to defy the wild magic. Now, Justice would be working to reinstate it. If two people were genuinely suited for one another, they would be bound together forever. She hoped more people would experience the feeling of finality she felt when they were proclaimed married.

  Evander pulled her in for a kiss as the people of Alderwood cheered for their Queen. As their kiss ended, Legacy placed the crown on Evander’s head that signified him as the King of the Kingdom of Man. Justice stepped between them and held their hands, he brought them up in celebration.

  Among the cheers of her people, Legacy could almost hear the distant rumble of a warning coming from somewhere deep within Alderwood. A new era was dawning, and no one had escaped utterly untouched by the corruption of the wild magic. Legacy looked to Honor and Noble for confirmation of the inkling of fear that began to creep up her spine.

  Her siblings felt the rumbling, and nearby, Arrow and Journey began to cry at the same time. It was over almost as soon as it began, but the darkness that clouded Noble’s eyes in that brief moment told Legacy the future may hold darkness deeper than they had ever encountered.

  ABOUT the Author

  KT Webb is a multi-genre author who chose to give up her title as the world’s leading cat blogger to share her stories.

  To keep herself grounded, she moonlights as a stunt double for Taylor Swift (those videos can be dangerous). In her spare time, she likes to hold Twitter conversations with her future husband, Gerard Butler. She’s convinced he’ll come around—after all, she wrote a story he inspired. What man wouldn’t want that?

  When she isn't writing, KT can be found binge-watching serial killer documentaries and reassuring her personal FBI agent that it’s for “research.”

  She resides in the Midwest.

  A Note from the Author