by Jeff Gunzel
“You’re wrong about that,” Viola said, slowly rising to her feet, her labored breath coming in short, raspy gasps. She looked him in the eyes, allowing the silence to linger before speaking again. “They will always fight to protect me, just as I would do the same for them. That is what friends do. We are loyal to one another.” She gestured to the lerwicks who had been blown several yards away. “These sheep will follow you as long as you provide for them, but they are not loyal. You may have taken a city, and you might even gain more followers because of it. But you will never know what it’s like to have real friends. For that, I pity you.”
Jarlen opened his mouth, but she was already limping away, making her way towards Liam. Beaten and broken, she practically fell into his arms. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice so weak he could barely hear her.
“Nonsense. I’m just glad you’re safe.” He held her as tightly as he dared, seeing how injured she was.
“He could have killed me.”
“But he didn’t. It is over. Best not to think about it anymore. Come, it’s time to go home.” Liam turned and began leading her back to the ravens.
“He should have,” she repeated one last time, too soft for Liam to hear. “But he couldn’t go through with it.”
* * *
The flight back was quiet and slow, with Salina taking extra care to keep the ride smooth. “You could have gotten yourself killed back there,” Salina said, finally breaking the long silence when the tower came into view.
“It wouldn’t be the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last,” Viola said. Salina snickered in response. “But how am I supposed to be a leader if I don’t take risks? I need to set an example for those who follow me. They need to know that I am willing to stand beside them on the battlefield. They need to know that I am not afraid to take risks.” She sighed. “I don’t know how else to convince the lerwicks that they can count on me. Loyalty must be earned, and I believe that actions speak louder than words.”
Salina gently nudged her and pointed down to the path below. “I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you. Look!” The road leading up to the tower was packed. Lerwicks were everywhere, all making their way towards the tower with all their possessions packed in small bags. Owen and Liam looked back from their mounts, smiling at Viola while pointing down at the surreal scene. Sides had been taken, and a great many were making their way right to her doorstep.
Viola smiled, waving down at them as she flew overhead. Some waved back while others cheered and pumped their fists. “So many, I never dreamed...” Viola swallowed the swelling lump in her throat. Her call had been answered, and answered loudly.
Epilogue
Unseasonably cold this evening, Xavier lay on his back to gaze up at the stars. The night sky was clear, yet the moon’s light was still not enough to drown out the twinkling starlight. The occasional cloud passed over the moon, providing a weak, purplish shadow that reminded him of a wandering spirit. The forest was still this evening, without so much as a cricket or bird making a peep. The utter stillness did little to aid Xavier’s growing loneliness. Alone with nothing but his thoughts, even the distant hoot of an owl would have been a welcome sound. It felt as if he were the only man in the world.
With a shiver, he scooted closer to the dying fire, its low embers burning a deep red. Too tired to go fetch more wood, he would enjoy what little heat it had left before drifting off to sleep. It would be another lonely night out in the middle of nowhere. But somehow, that didn’t bother him as much as it could have. Yes, this life of solitude was probably the only life he would know from this day forward, but at least that burden landed squarely on him.
Out here, he had no chance of hurting anyone, and that was the point. His friends would forget about him soon enough, if they hadn’t already. Viola would be safe in the spiritists’ tower, and he would most likely never see her again. This is the only way it can be. It is for the best. Even while trying to convince himself that that was true, the thought still pained him deeply. But it was for the best, and to look at it any other way was just plain greedy.
Besides, she was still alive! That alone was more than he could have ever hoped for. So what if he would never see her again? She was safe and that was all that mattered. It was his duty, no matter how painful, to make sure she stayed that way. He had to protect her, even if it was from himself.
His eyelids growing heavy, Xavier gave in to a long blink as the starry sky disappeared for a moment. Focusing on the moon for what would probably be the last time this evening, he yawned and closed his eyes again. Tomorrow, he would probably travel another seven or eight miles before continuing on his lonely journey to nowhere.
Nearly asleep, his eyes jetted wide open to a face only a few inches from his. With rings in his nose and lips, the man stared down at Xavier with an intense look on his face. Reflexively, Xavier rolled his shoulder to throw a punch, but his arm wouldn’t move. Neither arm would, as there were others here too, each one pinning down a leg or arm. Impossible. How had they snuck up on him like this? It was impossible to believe his warrior’s instincts had dulled so quickly.
“Wha-What do you want?” Xavier grunted, trying to thrash free.
“I am sorry,” the man said, the crazed look in his eyes at odds with his calm voice. “You must come with me. Aurabelle wishes to speak with you.” Without the slightest hesitation, the man reared up quickly, his fist coming down like a hammer.
Xavier saw a flash of white, and his world was sent into a spin before succumbing to the darkness that swept him away.
Note from the author:
I hope you’ve enjoyed book 5 of the Tainted Blood series.
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Other work by Jeff Gunzel includes:
Books by Jeff Gunzel
The Legend of the Gate Keeper Series
The Shadow
Land of Shadows
Siege of Night
Lost Empire
Reborn
The Trials of Ashbarn
End of Days
Tainted Blood Series
A Rip in Time
Of Blood and Blade
Winds of Chaos
A Rising Storm
Blood of the Fallen
