“I’m sorry for that. I didn’t want you to feel responsible. To valida–”
“It was too late!”
“None of us blamed you.”
“It doesn’t matter. I blamed me. If anything, you guys forgiving me just made it worse. Isn’t anyone going to hold a grudge?”
“None of us want us to be like the Betrayer. Everon was wrong.”
“Yes, I know. All three of you were always more noble than me. We all knew it. And I don’t begrudge you for it.”
“We were not more noble than you. I always knew you felt that way. It’s why you always made snide remarks at Korrin. I don’t know why you have a hard time admitting that you are a good man.”
“Well, I’m not anymore. Isn’t that what we’re agreeing on here?”
She gestured futility and remarked with a light tone, “I’m mostly hearing us argue, not agree to anything.”
He smiled insincerely. “Well, at least we can agree to that.”
“So what now? The imposters, as you call them, aren’t here. They are good people, Soli. They don’t deserve what has happened to them any more than we did. Even less.”
“Yes, so this is also my fault.”
She sighed. “That’s not where I was going with that. Stop that.” He didn’t respond, and she continued, “They would answer your questions without an interrogation. They answered mine.”
His tone became aggressive. “What did they tell you?”
“That’s between me and them.”
“I can find out, you know.”
She glared at him and softly observed, “If you ever cast that spell on me, me never forgiving you will be the least of your problems.”
He held still and then laughed under his breath. “You are the only person on a thousand worlds who can get away with threatening me.”
“I’m honored. But I think you need to leave.”
Soliander shook his head. “Come with me.”
“No.”
“Eriana, please. I just found you. Do not make me leave this planet without you again. It was an accident last time and I’m certainly not doing it again, especially on purpose.”
“I must help them, because you will not.”
“They appear to be doing fine from what I’ve heard.”
Eriana shook her head. “They are struggling, especially when they come back. They do not have Home Rings and it is causing very serious problems.”
“Well, Matt seems powerful enough to create one. I’m sure they’ll solve that problem soon enough.”
“I know you are upset about the situation we were in, and yet you are so cold and callous about them being in one that is even worse.”
Soliander sighed. “I am tired of ever caring about anyone other than myself, because all it does is cause me pain. And it is all because I lost you. No matter what you say, it was my fault. I thought I had killed you. Do you understand? Please, at least tell me you understand. All those years of protecting you, trying to stop this thing, trying to stop Everon and others from destroying our lives while we were gone on a quest we didn’t want and couldn’t protect anyone we cared about because of it. And at the moment we’re about to finally be free, and we can be together without fear, I thought I had killed you.”
“I’m still alive.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“But now you do.”
He made a gesture of futility with one arm. “It’s been years, Eriana. How long was I supposed to keep the hate from my heart?”
Sounding concerned, she asked, “Is it you that you hate or everyone else?”
He laughed bitterly. “You always could see right through me.”
“You don’t have to hate yourself anymore.” She walked up to him, very close. “I’m not dead, Soli, and it’s because of you that I’m still alive. And free. You deserve credit for freeing us, not trapping us.”
“Are you trying to save me?”
After a pause, Eriana said, “I am the Light Bringer.”
Soliander put one hand on her arm. “Well, you can’t save me if we’re not together, and as you said, I should leave. Come with me.”
“I can’t.”
“Then I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Somehow, Jack knew the intent and shouted “No!” as he ran from the kitchen and burst into the living room, heart pounding, a surge of adrenaline giving him speed. Words of magic reached his ears. Eriana’s wide eyes darted from Soliander to him, and she held up one hand to ward off Jack, who suddenly realized his vulnerability. The powerful wizard shot him an icy glare that sent a jolt of fear through him, but he dove for them just as a soft light enveloped the pair. Jack braced for the impact—and passed right through where they were to land hard on the carpet. He turned back frantically, eyes racing over his apartment.
They were gone.
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Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Kristi-Lee Landrey, Sandra Chiwike, and Erica Thajeb.
Maps by Randy Ellefson.
Cover design by Miblart.com
Randy Ellefson Music
INSTRUMENTAL GUITAR
Randy has released three albums of hard rock/metal instrumentals, one classical guitar album, and an all-acoustic album. For more information, streaming media, videos, and free mp3s, please visit http://www.music.randyellefson.com
2004: The Firebard
2007: Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid
2010: Serenade of Strings
2010: The Lost Art
2013: Now Weaponized!
2014: The Firebard (re-release)
The Light Bringer: An Epic Fantasy Adventure Novel (The Dragon Gate Series Book 2) Page 33