CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Koral looked around. She was in the realm of the Earth Mother, but it looked different this time. Then she recalled seeing Brin, and realized something bad had happened. “Do not despair, princess. All is not what it appears to be,” came the Earth Mother’s voice, as she appeared before Koral.
“I am dead, am I not?”
“No, and yes,” came the reply. “Your time is over, for now. But as I had said, nothing is what it seems.” Then she disappeared, leaving Koral to contemplate the meaning of those words.
The group stood in stunned silence. Eric ran over to where Glavlin placed her and knelt down. “No,” he repeated over and over.
“Who be the one doin' this?” asked Grund. He and Drundle had come through last, bringing an old and ragged elf with them, and the portal was again a mirror.
“It was Brin,” stated Glavlin, head down not realizing Gillock had saved his father and he was now in the room.
Gillock gasped. “I knew she had gone to the Tower, but I was not aware of how close she and Lakin had gotten.”
“The true betrayal has occurred,” came Mordekai's voice from behind. “Except Gillock and Glavlin, I need you all to leave immediately.”
Everyone began to protest, but Mordekai was not in the mood to negotiate. Eric could not contain himself, his grief overwhelming. Mordekai placed a sleeping spell on him, and ordered him carried to his room. He then had the other two wizards at the school take the rest to the dining hall to await him. Glomain was escorted to a room to have his wounds attended and where he could recover.
Once the room was clear, Mordekai moved towards Koral. “Please step away Glavlin,” said the wizard softly.
The elf did as asked and watched as Mordekai sprinkled a powder over her body and start chanting. The spell was quite powerful and it filled the room. When he was finished, he collapsed. Both moved to help him.
“What was that?” asked Glavlin.
“A preservation spell,” whispered Mordekai, for he could not catch his breath enough to speak louder.
“Let me explain,” said Gillock. “You are too weak just yet.” Turning to face the elf, Gillock continued. “What he means is Koral is now in a type of suspended animation. Her part in this tale has only just begun.”
“Let us go to my study, I have much to explain,” said Mordekai, his strength returning.
Slowly they made their way towards the study when one of the wizards came running up.
“The girl, Maeve, is having some type of fit. We don't know what to do,” he exclaimed.
Gillock and Mordekai started running, with Glavlin in tow. They arrived to see her on the floor of the dining hall, writhing around as if in pain.
“Get her out to the courtyard, NOW,” yelled Gillock, who turned to see Demosi following as they carried her outside.
Within moments, she began to glow. “Move away!” yelled Demosi, who was also glowing, and becoming his proper size.
Maeve began to float up off the ground, then in a brilliant flash the girl was no more. Before them stood a beautiful black dragon.
She was almost the same size as Demosi, but her scales were black, which shimmered with blue hues. Maeve was stunned at first, but then in a flash the memories came flooding back. With the death of her mate, Maeve had decided to change into a human. Living among them was the only way she felt she would survive. It felt good to be a dragon again, and then Demosi moved into her line of sight.
“My Maeve? Is it really you?” asked the dragon.
“Demosi, is it you?” was her reply, and then they intertwined.
“We shall return,” stated Demosi, then both leapt into the air, and within seconds, they were out of sight.
The wizards told the group to go and have a bath, see their aches tended, and have something to eat. There was much to discuss, but it could wait.
Within a breath, the southern landscape of the Central Lands changed. The Wizard’s school was clearly visible in the distance from Keenley. Those inside the castle still had yet to realize the Void had collapsed, and that the school was again in the real world.
Malena’s castle became visible, but it wasn’t the same one she had created in the Void. It had become a black fortress. It appeared, nestled in a crook connecting the Unmoving Mountains and the true Death's Boundary. The fetid swamp, which had blocked the entrance to Magna Pass dried up, all save the area near the fortress. A thick and forbidding forest would develop in the weeks to come. An evil magic was present.
Malena moved onto the balcony, one she had stood on many times, and noticed the change. More important was the fact that for the first time in almost forty years, she breathed in fresh air. The view made her eyes tear, finally she was free, and everyone was going to remember who she really is.
Further north, Elizanne collapsed to her knees. Jeremy ran towards her, and lifted her head in his hands. Tears streamed down her face.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Malena,” she replied. “She is really my mother!”
As she spoke the words, the memory came back to him as well. It had been a spell placed on all the Central Lands. They would remember she was an evil creature, bent on ruling the world, but that was all. Now, the entire Central Lands, and perhaps beyond, would remember who she was.
“My brother returned, and now the memory of my mother. I fear this may be exactly what Duke Dubar needs to start his war,” stated Elizanne, terror in her voice.
EPILOGUE
“My queen, I have good news,” stated the scout.
“Well, then speak,” was her reply.
“Magna Pass is again visible, as you thought. We scouted far down into it and there is no sign of any armies heading in. I am confident they are not yet aware it has been opened for travel again.”
Queen Saralimina sat back in her throne. For the last few years, magic had been failing. Just a day earlier, she had felt it surge through her again, and wondered if the prophecy was set into motion. She had sent out her scouts to check and see if the pass opened. This news was indeed good.
“Thank you for the information. You may go.”
The scout bowed and left the queen.
Melakite eased himself beside the queen. “I told you it would come to pass,” he said, sitting beside her. “What are your plans now?” he asked.
“Prepare the army. We cannot be caught off guard should an army come at us from the Pass. We have enough problems with the humans on the other side of the Mason River. You did see a war, did you not?”
Melakite was a seer, and advisor to the throne. “Yes, I did see war, and we are at war. But I also saw the one-who-is-dead. He is whom you need to be fearful of.”
The queen laughed. “I will never fear him, or anyone. I am the Queen of the Elves, my dear Melakite. People fear me.”
Melakite bowed his head, and took his leave. Outside he found Tao in his usual spot. “Captain, I need you to get one of your men to take word to General Destra. The army is to be ready for anything.”
Tao bowed, and headed towards the general’s quarters. Melakite smiled. Soon everything he had been preparing for would come to pass, and he would have his revenge.
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Thank you so much for reading Children of the Sun and Moon. Feel free to leave a review.
P.D. Stewart
Continue on with the series:
Book 2 – Cavern of the Heavens
Book 3 – Shard of the Fallen Goddess
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