When they were finished with their meal, they all gathered in one of their rooms so they could talk openly without being overheard. They built a fire in the fireplace and sat near it until late into the night. There was so much to talk about and reflect on. Makilien wished the night would not have to end, but sleep was needed for the last leg of their journey.
Saying reluctant goodnights, Makilien went to her room with Halandor. The small room had only one bed, but Halandor was content to sleep on the floor. As he rolled out his blankets, Makilien got into the bed in the corner, cringing a little at the crunching of the straw mattress and dreaming briefly of the feather bed in Elimar. That turned her thoughts toward home. The next night she knew she would sleep in her own bed in Reylaun. Torick had wondered if the guards would even allow her in again, but Makilien was not worried. She knew Elohim wanted her there so He would get her inside.
Thoughts of home made Makilien think of her family. How would they react to her after being away for so long? She’d left angry and without warning, except for telling Leiya.
“Halandor.” Makilien’s voice was hesitant, uncertain.
He looked up at her. “Yes?”
“Do you think my parents will welcome me back after I left without telling them and appearing so angry before I did?”
Halandor nodded confidently. “I’m sure they will. From what you’ve told me about them, I know they love you and will be very happy to have you home. They will be glad to know you are safe.”
Makilien let out a sigh, comforted, and the room became quiet as they both drifted off to sleep.
* * *
“Reylaun is only another mile up the road,” Halandor said, keeping his voice down in case any guards were nearby.
Makilien couldn’t believe they were here. It had taken most of the day, but it had come so quickly.
She dismounted and untied her packs. Kneeling on the ground, she sorted through her things and stuffed all her clothes into her larger pack and filled the smaller one with all the things she’d collected. Gifts she had received from her friends—the map Halandor had given her, Aedan’s dagger, her sketchbook, a book of stories from Vonawyn, which were much more truthful than Mornash’s, several jents from the tree in Eldinorieth, and a few other odd trinkets.
Standing up again, Makilien looked at Antiro. They would not be going any farther on horseback, and she knew her beloved horse could not go with her into Reylaun.
“I wish you could come with me, Antiro,” she said longingly, “but I would never be allowed to keep you. The only horses I’ve ever seen in Reylaun belong to the guards. Their horses are black and if they saw you, they’d want to take you and use you for their own. Neither of us wants that.”
Antiro stomped his foot and tossed his head in displeasure.
“I know you’re unhappy, so am I, but this is how it must be. You’ll be much happier going back to Elimar.”
Antiro’s neck drooped dejectedly. Makilien stroked his cheek.
“I will miss you, Antiro, very much. There is no better horse in all of Dolennar.” Gently raising his head up, Makilien kissed his nose. “Goodbye, Antiro.”
The horse nickered softly and nuzzled her cheek. Makilien rubbed his forehead one last time and picked up her packs. Leading the way, she and her friends quietly made their way through the forest. When they spotted the palisade through the trees, they crept along cautiously until Makilien found a familiar old, rotted tree stump.
“The loose stake should be right over there.”
Checking to make sure no one was in sight, they left the cover of the forest. At the palisade, Makilien hid her small pack in the long grass. She unbuckled her sword belt and hid her sword with the pack, hoping it wouldn’t be exposed to the elements for long.
After this task was accomplished, they went back the way they had come until they found a small clearing hidden by brush. From there they could see the gate leading into Reylaun. Guards stood there, dark and foreboding, just as Makilien remembered, but no longer so frightening.
This was it. All she had to do was approach the gate and ask to be let inside. Somewhere within those walls were her family and Aedan. Being so close filled Makilien with longing and anticipation. But she had one more obstacle to overcome—her final and most painful farewells. She turned to her traveling companions, not sure what to say or how to begin. Sensing her reluctance, Torick spoke instead.
“Here we are, almost exactly where we first met.”
The memory brought a smile to Makilien’s face. “It seems like a lifetime ago. I wanted to know the truth so bad, I didn’t care what might happen if I talked to you. I don’t know what would have happened to me if you had never come to Reylaun.”
“I never wanted to come here,” Torick admitted. “I was going to avoid these villages, but I can see now Elohim prompted me to come.”
“Thanks for listening to Him.” Makilien paused, not sure if he’d mind if she hugged him, but then Torick opened his arms welcomingly. Makilien embraced him with a smile. “I’m so very glad to know you, Torick.”
“And I you, Makilien.”
They exchanged goodbyes, and Torick said, “Say hello to your friend, Aedan, for me.”
“I will.”
Makilien turned to Loron. “Thank you for saving my life the night we were attacked by the mountain wolves, and thank you for your friendship. You certainly showed me the error in the tales I’d heard all my life about Elves.”
“I’m glad Elohim brought our paths together,” Loron said.
After hugging and saying farewell, Makilien turned next to Sirion. By now it was becoming much harder to hold back her tears. The ache in her heart was especially acute at this goodbye.
“Your friendship has really meant a lot to me,” Makilien said, hoping he would understand the earnestness she felt.
“To me as well,” he replied softly.
Makilien found herself at a loss. Goodbye was so difficult. Then, quietly and earnestly, Sirion told her, “I will be watching for you.”
Makilien smiled. He truly expected her to be back, and she comforted herself with that. The two of them hugged tightly, and he whispered goodbye in her ear.
Makilien then turned to Halandor. Already emotional, she didn’t think she could make it through without crying.
“I don’t know where I’d be without you,” Makilien said, her voice breaking. Halandor had been her father away from home. Her protector, teacher, and best friend. At all times he had been prepared to die before allowing any harm to come to her. She hadn’t known such kindness, loyalty, and love existed before meeting him. She had needed him so badly and couldn’t imagine being without him now, but it was because of him and all he had taught her that she could return to Reylaun confidently.
As a tear finally slipped down Makilien’s cheek, Halandor pulled her into his arms, holding her with as much care and love as he once had his own daughter.
“Thank you so much for everything,” Makilien murmured between her tears. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Makilien.”
She did not want to let go, but it was time. With a final goodbye, Makilien stepped back and drew in a deep breath while wiping away her tears. She didn’t want to approach the guards looking like a lost little girl, which she wasn’t now, thanks to her friends and Elohim. Composing herself, she let a smile return to her face.
“I anxiously look forward to seeing each of you again . . . one way or another.”
Shouldering her pack, Makilien focused her mind on her mission ahead and turned. I will go wherever You lead me, Elohim. Her heart filling with peace, Makilien left the clearing and strode toward the gate. She was a couple of yards away when the guards noticed her. They stood up very straight and watched her with narrowed eyes.
When she reached them, she stopped.
“Who are you and what is your business here?” one of them demanded in a cold voice, which once would have sent chills through Makilien’s body
.
Speaking confidently but with caution so as not to arouse their anger, Makilien answered, “I was born here in Reylaun. I don’t want trouble, I just want to go home to my family.”
The guards looked at each other and glared at her for a long moment, almost as if trying to get her to confess to something. Calling on Elohim for strength, Makilien held their gaze.
“Let me see your pack,” the first guard said at last.
Makilien handed it to him and watched him rummage through it. Though he appeared disappointed not to find anything forbidden, he returned the pack to her. She stuffed the dresses back in, which he had left hanging out, and slung it over her shoulder. After another tense silence, the guard finally stepped out of her way.
“Do not cause trouble with the villagers,” he warned in a threatening tone.
Makilien did not reply. She looked into the village she’d known all her life. This was her final chance to change her mind—to walk in or turn and run back to her friends. But there was no question. The people here were lost and needed the knowledge she now possessed. Meniah had told her she had much to do, and she would never abandon that charge.
Squaring her shoulders, Makilien walked into the village, following the road she had traveled so many times in the past. Everything was familiar, yet she looked upon it in a new way. Nearing home, she spotted a familiar form on the road ahead. A wide grin broke out.
“Aedan!”
He spun around, his eyes wide in surprise. He blinked once as if he didn’t believe what he saw. “Makilien!”
She ran to meet him and dropped her pack so she could hug him.
“You’re back!” Aedan exclaimed as they stood facing each other.
“I told you I would be.” Makilien laughed happily.
“Where have you been?” Aedan was eager to know. He shook his head in disbelief. “You look so different.”
Makilien was pleased to hear so. “Oh, Aedan, I have so much to tell you,” she said, her eyes bright and sparkling with enthusiasm. “You won’t believe what I’ve seen and learned.”
“I want to hear everything,” Aedan replied.
“And I will tell you all of it. I just have to see my family first. How are they, Aedan?”
“They are all right, but they’ve taken your absence pretty hard. They will be overjoyed to see you.”
His words gave Makilien much relief.
“Come on,” Aedan said. “I think your father just got home.”
They walked quickly the remaining distance, Makilien’s anticipation growing with each step. When the little house she’d been born in finally came into view, she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. Her mother stood sweeping the porch, and Leiya carried a water bucket to the house. Makilien’s eyes filled with tears.
Leiya was the first to spot them coming.
“Makilien!” she cried in pure delight. She dropped her bucket and raced toward them, flying into Makilien’s arms.
“Leiya,” was all Makilien could manage as she choked back tears, wrapping her arms around her sister. She hugged her tight, finally giving in to the longing she’d had for her family.
“I’m so glad you’re home,” Leiya murmured.
Makilien brushed the young girl’s hair out of her face. “So am I, Leiya.”
She looked up then to see her mother standing only a couple of feet away. The tears filling the older woman’s eyes were nearly about to overflow.
“Mother,” Makilien said emotionally and was swept into her arms.
“Oh, Mother, I am so sorry,” Makilien cried as she held her mother tightly. “I should never have left the way I did without telling you and making things right.”
Overwhelmed by the reunion, Makilien cried hard into her mother’s shoulder. At last, Hanna pulled away gently, her own cheeks wet with tears, and cupped Makilien’s face in her hands. “It’s all right, Makilien. You’re home now. Everything is all right.”
Makilien smiled joyfully. “I missed you so much.”
But, seeing her father standing just behind her mother, she said no more. Makilien didn’t think she’d ever seen him look so emotional.
“Father.”
Hanna let her go and more tears fell from Makilien’s eyes as her father wrapped her securely in his arms without a word. Laying her head against his shoulder, Makilien was filled with indescribable joy. She belonged here. Whether it be for only a short time or for the rest of her life, right now this was where she belonged. And now that she had found the truth, she knew it would give her courage to face whatever lay ahead and she would never have to feel imprisoned again.
# # #
Want more adventure?
Check out book 2 of the Makilien Trilogy:
Courage
As the evil lord Zirtan amasses an army unlike any that has ever been seen, Makilien, along with her family and Aedan, find themselves thrust into the middle of the struggle. Risking everything to gather their allies, can Eldor achieve victory again, or will evil finally prevail?
Books by Molly Evangeline
Pirates & Faith Series
The Pirate Daughter’s Promise
Every Tear
A Captain’s Heart
Finding Faith
Makilien Trilogy
Truth
Courage
Trust
Coming 2014
RESISTANCE
Ilyon Chronicles – Book1
www.ilyonchronicles.com
Molly Evangeline, Truth: Makilien Trilogy - Book 1
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends