by RG Long
The great beast of the Court had died with Firag. The Skrilx had mourned the dragon for a week. The only Solace they had found was the knowledge that the great beast had, in its death throes, destroyed the last great general of the Blackthorns — the terrible elf Commander Sefen.
Rark could find some comfort in that as they marched.
Some of the settlements were on top of the ruins that Ferdinand, the Court of Three, or the dwarves of Taystone had created. Cities and villages ravaged by War. Where ever survivors were, Rark had them pledge allegiance to her as their leader and to the Skrilx as their guardians. Just as her people had been treated, they were given no other option.
There had been no resistance. So many people had died that those who had survived merely wished to continue living on to the next day. Rark found it oddly unsatisfying to appoint her people as slave masters. Perhaps after her time, she would free those who she endowed to her people.
Perhaps.
For the time being, Rark looked out over the tower that had fallen in the center of what was once wWar, the capital of the Court of three.
She saw no survivors here. Whether that had been because Ferdinand had left none or because whoever had survived the initial collapse of the city had fought until they had decimated themselves, she did not know.
But this would be her home.
“Do you think we’ll ever get to meet Galp?” Jos asked at her side as she looked over the crater that had once served as the capital of the Court. “I had hoped we might get to meet him once we heard from that group of strangers.”
Rark shook her head.
“I don’t believe we’ll ever see them again,” she said truthfully.
After the battle of Severn, most all who wanted peace stayed there to find it. All who wished to make a name for the Skrilx came with her. What had happened to that strange band, she didn’t know.
“Maybe one day,” Grolla said. The Skrilx was never far from Jos’ side. “Maybe.”
Rark looked down at these two young Skrilx and felt a renewed sense of purpose. This was for them. So that they might have a future where they did not live in fear of a nation that may decide to come and destroy them, this was so that the next generation of Skrilx could thrive.
She would rule it as she saw fit and ensure that her race grew strong again. And she would protect the Skrilx at whatever the cost. She was Chief Rark of the Skrilx.
She was strong.
And she would rule.
56: Peace
The summer celebration in Severn was not as grand as it had been in previous years. In the past, men and women traveled from all over the country in order to celebrate in the capital city. Political rivals and enemies for a set-aside for the day spring turned in the summer.
Normally, the city was clothed in flowers and bright colors. Today, there were hardly any flowers, and certainly, there was hardly cloth to spare. Any material that could be found had been used to make tents or clothing for the displaced and the wounded who were still healing.
But that did not prevent people from gathering. The city was in ruins, but that did not prevent them from the funeral for the dead have been long ago. Many work still morning the loss of family, but today was a day to celebrate. Not only were they going to put aside the losses they had filled from last year and celebrate new birth in the summer, today they would celebrate the rebirth of the nation of seven.
No longer would it be a nation of humans. Today it would become a nation of men, dwarves, elves, and Skrilx. All who desired to live in peace could find Solace in the nation of Severn. And this summer celebration would be the beginning of the nation. A national holiday that would be remembered each year.
Thamund looked hopefully at the people who had gathered around him. It was a group of people he had once never thought possible to be gathered. Dwarves who had forsaken the greed of Taystone and the Court. Elves who had once kept to themselves but now wanted to share their knowledge with any who wanted to learn. Skrilx who had held grudges, and rightly so, for many years forgiving those who would allow them to be forgiven.
A new nation would be born today.
He cleared his throat.
“Today, we honor those who do not know: men and women, dwarf and elf alike who gave their lives in the name of peace. Wars are fought every day. Wars all over Gilliam. It is possible that some of the heroes we honor here today we will never know. Their names are not to be recorded down in history because we do not know them. But what we do know is that those who strive for peace will eventually one day find it.”
He raised his sword to the sky.
“Today, we honor the unknown fallen in the sacrifice they made so that we might come to this agreement of peace.”
Dwarf, elf, and Skrilx alike raised their weapons towards the sky in a salute. All those gathered around them raised up their hands as well.
“Today we are not Taystone, Gir, Severn, or LeGrove,” he said. “This day, we become the nation of Solace. One where all can live in peace, so long as peace is what they desire.”
“To Solace!” called Laserie, the elf from LeGrove.
“To Solace!” called Tert and Acred, the Skrilx who had agreed to live and work among those who had once hunted them down.
“To Solace!” called a dwarf who had come, not from Taystone, as Thamund understood it, but from far away. A gifted speaker who had abandoned his master, but was willing to teach dwarves who desired to learn the ways of magic.
Thamund nodded at Jeremy, the young dwarf who had agreed to help repair the relations Severn had with his race.
“To Solace!” they all said in unison.
The crowd of dwarves and elves and Skrilx and men cheered as the celebrations began. Their nation was created.
Thamund did not know what the future held for this new country they were forming today. But he did know they would strive for peace when all other options were exhausted. They would not let such a war affect their continent again in their lifetime.
Peace was a battle worth fighting for.
57: Onward
The wind washed over Ealrin, but for once, it brought him no joy. He felt numb. Cold. Everything about him felt cold. What had gone so wrong?
The death of his sister.
The kidnapping of Blume.
The loss of so many of their friends.
Felecia. Wisym.
And now he had lost Holve too.
It was like his world of been ripped out from underneath him. As they flew over Redact, he saw the ruins of Rerial and Poral sail beneath him. He felt some remorse for what he imagined was the last of the fleet, but it was mixed.
He had come to Redact looking for his family. He had not expected to lose the family he had found here as well.
He couldn’t decide which was worse to him.
Losing Elise was terrible. Losing his father was equally so. Losing his friends was not something he could have predicted.
He felt guilty too.
They had come here for him in order to help him find his family.
Not only had they not kept his family safe, but he had also managed to get his friends killed as well.
It was all because of Holve.
The man he had trusted.
The man he barely knew.
Teresa came up beside him and put a hand on his. He did not recoil from it, but he felt only slight warmth in her touch. Everything was cold.
“We’re going to find them,” she said. “We won’t stop until we do.”
Ealrin nodded.
“To Galin,” he said. “We have to find a way to get to Cruth on Galin.”
Teresa nodded.
“That’s what Wisym said. That everyone who goes to Galin has to cross through Cruth.”
“It’s a prison nation,” Ealrin said. “And all around it are supposed to be the worst monsters any of us have ever seen.”
“Bah,” Gorplin said as he walked up next to them. “Nothing we haven’t faced before. We’ll
get them back, Ealrin. Just wait. We’ll have our day.”
Teresa nodded.
Alma and Serinde came up beside them. So did Galp and Urt. Silverwolf remained in the crow’s nest, as she always did. Jurrin, Jaxon, and Jill stayed by the wheel of the ship. Ealrin had no desire to fly. All he needed to do now was to think.
He had found his family.
Now he had lost some of his closest friends.
Ealrin felt gratitude for those he had with him now. But their presence only reminded him of those he had lost — the ones who were now gone.
And it was all because of the man he had called his mentor and friend. Now, as they sailed past Redact and out into the open oceans, only one question remained on Ealrin’s mind.
Who was Holve Bravestead?
Author’s Note
Since I started on this journey three years ago, writing the Legends of Gilia series, I knew that Ealrin receiving back some of his memories would be a sad affair.
What I had not intended was that losing his father and sister would be hard on me! I loved those characters and very much thought at least one of them would continue on with Ealrin past his adventures on Redact.
But, as an author, I knew that there was a bigger story behind Ealrin and his company. One that I’ve been keeping from you, my readers, since I began.
We’ve been asking this whole time “Who is Ealrin?”
What I hope you’ll ask with me now, especially as we travel to the desolated lands of Galin, is “Who is Holve?”
I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey thus far.
Just three more books until we close out the saga of the Legends of Gilia.
See you there.
RG Long.
The Story Continues
“Secrets of Galin”, book thirteen in the Legends of Gilia series, will be available Fall, 2019!
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Thanks for reading.
Enjoy the journey,
RG Long
