Chapter 17
Farewells
Eversor, after all the centuries, was still as handsome as the day the gods made him. The wound in his abdomen, the one Lysandros gave him while protecting Alina, had completely healed.
Remus coughed up blood as he tried to speak his brother, “Rom, that is the man who tried to kill Alina. You may not have liked her, but she is my wife. Avenge her.”
Romulus was hesitant to leave his brother’s side but did as he asked. He picked up his sword and advanced on Eversor. Eversor casually swiped his hand in a dismissive manor and the son of Mars froze where he stood.
Remus tried to stand to help his brother, but Cailean pushed him back down. In protest, Remus pushed Cailean’s arm aside and called out to his soldiers to attack.
Reaching inside his pocket, Eversor turned towards the army. He carefully pulled out a pile of black dust and blew it in the army’s direction.
The Gaels recognized the powder and tried to stop Remus’ men from advancing, but they were too late. The Gaels, who could reach their enchanted shields, formed a wall of armor to protect themselves from the powder.
When Eversor blew the powder towards the soldiers, they disintegrated where they stood. Brian swiped his arm causing a gust of wind to blow the powder to the windows. The glass disintegrated when the black particles collided with it.
“Get out of here!” Brian shouted to his men.
A ball of blue light flew past the soldiers’ heads and slammed into a barricade that blocked a secret passageway. Cailean peered around the pillar with one arm extended towards the wall while his other hand grasped Remus’. Cailean’s heart dropped into his stomach when he felt Remus’ grip loosen. He turned around just in time to see his friend smile up at him and then smile at Brian and Romulus.
“Hang on, Remus. This is no time to give up. We’re getting you out of here next,” Cailean tried to sound upbeat.
Another ball of blue light flew out of from Cailean’s hand to the back of Eversor’s head. When the ball hit, it freed Romulus from Eversor’s spell. He rushed back to Remus and clutched his hand.
Remus tried to laugh as he patted the back of his brother’s head. “I told you, you were always the hotheaded one.”
Romulus half cried and half laughed, “And you were always too cautious.”
Remus winced as he coughed up more blood and turned to Cailean. “Thank you for your help. Tell Brian you both have been like family to me. I entrust my daughter’s life to you now.”
Remus looked from Cailean to Romulus, and then to Brian, who distracted Eversor from attacking anyone else. He smiled and whispered, “My family.”
His head slumped to the side of his shoulder and his hand slid out of Romulus’ and Cailean’s.
Wiping tears from his eyes, Cailean turned towards Eversor with a vengeful mind. It may have been Romulus who stabbed Remus, but it was Eversor who provided the enchanted dagger that possessed Romulus to kill him. Cailean refused to wait to seek his revenge.
Brian slid in front of Cailean and pushed him out of the way. He ordered his grieving brother to help the others. Cailean tried to argue but could not get a word out as his throat constricted.
Eversor laughed as he bent down to pick up his dagger with the red light still attached. “I don’t even need to raise a finger to choke the life out of you, Cailean.” Eversor laughed loudly, “Tell me, how does that make you feel?”
Romulus dove at Eversor. Without much effort, Eversor clenched his fist and twisted it in Romulus’ direction. Romulus hunched over, clutching his stomach and gagging on deep red blood.
“Release them! You have me to contend with and you have already killed one child of Mars today. I would not make that mistake twice,” Brian growled.
“Two halves of a whole, do you remember that? If the gods wanted to save them, they would have intervened. That is what they do best,” Eversor cast an evil grin as he continued to torture Romulus.
Brian knew he was no match magically for Eversor, so he hurled his body at Eversor’s abdomen, tackling him to the ground. Eversor did not expect a physical attack and in his surprise, the dagger slipped from his hand, inches from his fingertips. However, Eversor did not need to reach it. He used his powers to call it back to him.
The torturous grips Eversor had on Romulus and Cailean ceased once Brian tackled him. Cailean and Romulus were ready to attack. Before they took a step, Brian shouted, “Invenire Regina!”
“Nooooooo!” Eversor screamed, pushing Brian off of him. He scrambled to the grab the dagger, but the red light unwound itself from the blade and vanished, leaving a wisp of red smoke in its absence.
“Qui est Regina?” Eversor yelled, demanding the location of The Power. His eyes turned black as his anger grew.
”It’s your own history and you don’t even know it,” Brian said, backing up to Remus’ body. “It was on the stone, Eversor. ‘Two halves of the whole will reinstall as Regina to all.’ The owner of The Power is a queen to become The Queen. ”
Brian reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny grey ball.
“This will not be the last time we meet, Brian,” Eversor threatened, “I promise you that!”
Brian threw the ball on the ground and a puff of grey smoke spiraled upward, providing cover for the three men to escape with Remus’ body. Eversor dove for the dagger and from the ground hurled the knife into the smoke.
When the smoke cleared, the four men were gone and so was the dagger. Eversor let out a thunderous howl that shook and crumbled the walls around him. The windows shattered outward, the pillars gave way, and the ceiling collapsed, leaving the palace in ruins.
A massive white cloud and marble ruins occupied the site where the opulent palace once stood. A single gold eagle emerged from the smoke, screeching as it flew away.