saddened me, it has not diminished my love for you.” Igus said, allowing a smile to cross his lips. Corsea looked at his twin and wondered what had gone so wrong. For the first time in his life, he actually began to feel something. He could not put a name on it. Remorse? He thought. He then looked into Igus’ eyes.
“Thank you for helping me, my brother.” Corsea said, and then did something totally unexpected. He held out his hand! Igus looked at it and he felt the tears welling in his eyes. He then took Corsea’s hand and shook it firmly. “I do not believe I have ever been happier.” Igus said.
Focura was touched beyond words. She had given up on Corsea, but now realized there was yet hope. She motioned for Artemus and the others to join her and they walked to Igus and Corsea.
“Igus, please stand away from Corsea.” Focura now said. Igus looked at Corsea and then Focura. “What will be done?” Igus asked, not moving. “I have decided to let Gareth meld out Corsea’s punishment.” Focura answered. All eyes turned to Gareth.
“What! Why me Focura!?” Gareth exclaimed. “Do you not remember thinking that you would destroy Corsea, Gareth? I now give you that chance.” She said coyly. Gareth remembered the anger he had felt. “Focura, I may have thought that, and in the heat of battle I may well have tried to kill him. But this is not a battle. I have never killed anyone that was defenseless.” Though Focura admired Gareth’s code of honor, she was looking for a specific solution.
“What of you Loanna? He made Brittany and Michael ill, did he not?” Loanna looked at the children, then to Melanie, “May I ask Corsea a question, Focura?” “Yes of course.” Loanna walked to Corsea. Igus was still helping his brother and looked up at Loanna. She looked at them, wondering how two identical beings, could be so different.
“Corsea, when you made the children sick, what was your true intention?” Loanna asked quietly. Corsea felt all eyes on him. He looked at Igus and then the ground, “I wish I could say I would not have harmed them, but at the time, I honestly did not care if they lived or die.” Loanna was taken aback by Corsea’s honesty. “What do you mean, ‘you wish’?” She now asked. Corsea lifted his eyes and looked at Loanna. “I have learned much in these past few moments. But I make no excuses, nor do I expect leniency. All I do now is apologize for hurting you and the children.” Loanna saw tears coming to Corsea’s eyes as he lowered his head. She felt a tug on her arm and looked down at Brittany, “Mommy, why is he crying?” Loanna looked at Focura, suddenly confused. Devon came to Loanna, then bent down and picked up Brittany.
“I think Corsea has just found his heart.” Devon said, kissing Brittany’s cheek, “What would you do now Focura?” He now asked, turning to her. She looked at Devon and smiled that sweet smile. “I think you are a very wise man Devon. You have already surmised that Corsea will not be harmed.” Igus now looked hopefully at Focura.
“Focura, my brother will be spared then?” Igus asked hopefully. “I believe everyone would be best served if Corsea were to return to the Isle of the Ages. What say you Corsea?” Focura asked, releasing him from her hold. Corsea, with Igus’ help, slowly stood up.
“Focura, I do not deserve mercy, but humbly accept your offer.” “We all deserve some measure of mercy. You have done much to disturb the balance of nature. It is up to you to correct your mistakes.” Focura now stated firmly. “Artemus, will you help me?” Corsea asked. “We will spend much time at the tree of lessons.” Artemus chided. “Thank you, I have much to learn.” Corsea said humbly.
Focura now raised her hands and a green glow surrounded Corsea and Artemus. As they began to fade, Corsea looked at Igus, “Please visit me, my brother.” “Promise.” Igus said happily.
Focura now faced the remaining group. “Ready to go home?” She asked. They all nodded their approval, except Jessica. “I am already home. This is my protectorate.” She said, then turned to walk away. Focura decided otherwise. “Jessica, nothing is etched in stone. I believe that Igus would be willing to share the Echo Forest.” She said, looking to Igus. “Yes, there is plenty of room!” Igus replied. Jessica happily agreed.
Focura sent Arianna and Igus back to the forest. Jessica would go with the others to Cashell, even though it was not Jessica’s idea! As they materialized at Cashell, Michael was the first to speak.
“Outstanding!” He yelled. Everyone laughed. “You are sounding more like your father every day!” Melanie said. “Why did Focura send me here?” Jessica now asked. Devon winked at Gareth. “Gareth, I suppose a glass of wine is in order!” Yes! And some food! Come my friends, we will eat and then Jessica can go to the forest.”
A cheer went up from Gareth’s men as they entered the manor gates. As Katryn and Lisa rushed down the main steps to meet them, they both noticed that Loanna had a twin.
“Sir Philip has told us of the brief battle and Focura and Artemus, but did not know what happened next!” Katryn said, hugging Gareth. “Let us go to the study mother and we will fill you in. Sir Philip, please tell a squire to have the kitchen send food and wine to the study, then join us there.” “Immediately my lord.” “Loanna, let us take the children and put them down for a nap.” Melanie suggested. “May I join you?” Jessica asked.
When the little group reached the study, Gareth pulled out a chair for Katryn and Devon did so for Lisa. Philip then entered the study.
“Have I missed anything?” Were the first words out of his mouth. “No Philip, I would not start without you.” Gareth said, slapping him on the back. “So...What happened!?” Philip insisted. “All right!” Gareth said laughing, then added. “After Focura returned you and the others, she asked us to decide what Corsea’s punishment should be. I liked your answer Devon, ‘After a battle, one tends to think of forgiveness’, I think Focura did not expect that, nor did she notice Igus slip away.” Gareth said, now looking to Devon. “She knew he went to Corsea my friend. I do not believe Focura wanted to harm Corsea. When Focura asked you to decide a punishment, she was testing you. When you refused to hurt a defenseless enemy, she turned to Loanna.” “I see what you are getting at. It was Igus who turned the tide! Igus never gave up on his brother. Then Brittany...”
“Brittany? What of Brittany?” Loanna asked, as she, Melanie and Jessica entered the study. Devon went to his wife. “We were telling them of the events that took place after Focura sent the troops away.” Devon said. “Yes, when Brittany saw Corsea crying, Devon told her that Corsea had found his heart.” Gareth said. “That is what Focura wanted, a glimmer of hope, so she could release him.” Devon finished.
Katryn, Lisa and Philip looked at each other. They understood what had just been said, but did not believe that Corsea was free. “Are you sure the decision to release Corsea was wise?” Katryn asked. “I saw him crying. I believe that for the first time in his life, he felt love.” Devon answered. “Yes mother, Igus’ actions somehow reached Corsea’s heart.” Gareth added. “I also felt the change that over took Corsea’s heart.” Jessica said. Lisa and Katryn looked at Loanna’s twin. Gareth realized that neither had met her before, and introduced her. He then told them of how she had protected Devon.
“You have our eternal thanks for keeping Devon safe.” Katryn said. Jessica looked at Devon. He smiled at her and nodded his head. “It was the least I could do for my daughter’s husband.” Katryn and Lisa looked at each other, then at Loanna. It took a moment for Jessica’s statement to sink in.
“You are my mother!? But Igus said you had died!” Loanna exclaimed. "Yes, I asked him to tell you that. Do not blame him. If you thought that I was alive, it would have hurt you every day that I was away.”
Jessica then told Loanna of Shaun and how she had fell apart after he died. The three men watched as all four women’s eyes began to tear up. Loanna went to Jessica and held her.
“Igus has always been as a father to me, and now I have my mother also.” Loanna said, crying softly. “And Brittany has a grandmother too!” Devon added. “That has a nice ring to it, grandmother.” Jessica said, letting the
word roll off her tongue.
Devon and Gareth looked at each other. They had become so close, they almost knew what the other was thinking. They both knew that Loanna would have a million questions, and both men smiled.
Corsea sat under the tree of lessons, meditating. He never knew love, so he never knew happiness. He now knew both.
Artemus would now be able to help Corsea. The anger Corsea felt was gone. A path to his heart now existed.
Igus and Arianna resumed a relationship that had been briefly interrupted. The love they felt was beyond comprehension. Igus felt as a school boy, experiencing a feeling alien to him. His looks no longer a factor, he would now make Arianna happy at any cost.
Focura watched them all. Her contact with humans was rare. Though they were all part of nature, she found that most of them knew nothing of the balance of nature. She had helped only because it was a child of nature causing the misery. She now went about the task of erasing the memory of the battle from all involved, save eight. The knowledge of the Children of Nature would become as a dream to be forgotten. The eight chosen would be made aware that they keep the secret they carry to themselves.
It was now evident that Loanna was a child of a child of