by Alon Shalev
But for now, there was no need for words. There was pipe weed, ale, and, best of all, friendship. The fire, crackling in the night, was the only sound.
Epilogue
His body was weak and bloodied, but though bones were broken, his spirit was not. The Emperor, in his animal form, flew far into the south. In the warm, volcanic swamps of Elbereth near Mount Grogin, he rested and slowly healed.
He had allies outside of Odessiya–ones who could be tempted or bent into service, seduced with a false promise of power. Odessiya was his. He would bide his time while he healed, carefully planning his return.
He had made a crucial mistake. The Wycaan elf had won because he had built alliances. The Emperor, though head of a great army, had stood alone. In the end he had faced the elf and his allies, and not only from the four races. The bears. That was unheard of.
But the elf probably did not know the entire history of the Wycaan order. Few did and they rarely spoke of it.
Those who had won had ruled. But those who had been vanquished had not died out. They were just waiting to write the next chapter in the history of Odessiya and the Wycaan Order.
He had written much of the recent past. He would yet write the future.
Author’s Note:
Dear Friend,
I trust you survived this battle relatively unscathed. I hope you laughed and cried with Seanchai and his friends, as I have. We have come a long way together, and perhaps it is time for some to rest. But as one chapter closes, another opens, and Seanchai will return with some old friends and some new. As I write this, the first draft of Book 4 is completed. It will be very different. Seanchai, Sellia, and the others are not as innocent as they once were. But who among us is?
The world of epic fantasy thrives, and there are many great authors producing fine novels to choose from. I thank you for taking the time to read Ashbar and the Wycaan Master series.
If we meet upon the road or at a tavern, let us meet as friends and tell tales of old times: of battles won, love lost, and alliances formed.
If we do not meet, feel free to contact me at [email protected] or sign up for my weekly blog post at http://www.elfwriter.com. I also tweet at @elfwriter. Please consider leaving a brief review of this book online.
Thank you again,
Alon
http://www.alonshalev.com
Non-Fantasy Novels
by Alon Shalev:
Unwanted Heroes (Three Clover Press, 2012)
A Gardener’s Tale (Three Clover Press, 2011)
The Accidental Activist (Three Clover Press, 2010)
