North & South
Page 31
When her father was still alive, he had never loved her like he had her brothers. She had somehow been different to him and she had always thought it was because she was a girl. After her mother died, Ashira had assumed it was too difficult to look at her, because she was so much like her mother. Perhaps, it had all been because of what her mother had done. Perhaps, she was her father’s child; she never could be sure.
He must have known; why else would Hadrian have been exiled? She had asked her aunt that very question. Padma had smiled and informed her that Hadrian had begun gathering supporters against Rodrick. Their father had banished him with a heavy heart and died a few years later. Padma had informed her that the only one who fought against it was Rodrick.
“Life,” she had said, “seems to have a twisted sense of humor.”
Her hand went to her stomach as she stood looking at the waterfalls and she had to agree. Cain, the warrior and the last of her brothers, was king. She was the bride of the Water King, a man who she had hated all her life. Yet as she stood there within the castle, she knew that her hatred had turned to love because of the man Eliron was.
His arms wrapped around her and she smiled softly. “Did you hear me thinking of you?”
“I would be insulted if you weren’t always thinking of me,” Eliron responded playfully.
It has been two months since Hadrian’s death. Even now as she stood happily married, everything that had happened had seemed like a dream; her marriage, the People of the Dunes, and the sacking of Roanoak. More than anything, she felt like a different person.
“No matter what comes,” Ashira said leaning back against him. “We will face it together.”
“If you are ever taken from me again,” Eliron said holding her tightly. “I will always find you.”
“I know,” Ashira said reaching back and putting her hand on his face, before kissing him. “We have so much to do.”
“We’ll do it together,” Eliron said softly. “The two of us.”
He let her go and intertwined their fingers they started towards the council room as she smiled. “The three of us you mean.”
Eliron stopped and looked back with his eyebrows raised. “Who exactly are you including?”
Ashira sucked her lips in and pressed them together as she put a hand on her abdomen and said, “The three of us.”
Eliron looked from her face to her stomach and back again as she nodded. His smile suddenly vanished. He opened his mouth, flabbergasted. He tried to form words, but kept failing. Instead he just lifted her up and spun her around as she laughed.
“You have made me the happiest man!” Eliron called before kissing her.
She laughed against his lips and said, “You have made me a better woman.”
“We have lots of work to do!” Eliron proclaimed, “I want all this nonsense in the north fixed before my son…”
“Or daughter!” Ashira piped in.
He smiled at her. “Or daughter is born.”
“Don’t worry, my love,” Ashira said slipping her hand into his, “We will do it together.”
Epilogue
Otto Deckard
A slightly older, but somehow younger, Otto Deckard stood in the throne room at Evermore. His daughter Evanora stood beside him and she wore fine clothes. She was nearly as tall as him now, though at sixteen it was unlikely she would grow too much taller. She had the same elegant look as her mother and the high collared dress made her seem older than she was.
In the years since the night Deckard burned his weapon, he had turned his attention to farming equipment. He had used his mind to invent new ways to grow and harvest crops. He had made just enough money from his various inventions to give Evanora and Marisol a comfortable life. The rest he had sold at cost and strove to make the world a better place.
The north and south had recently signed a treaty in Tiam. He was happy with the knowledge that the flying machines had been destroyed. The world had not been ready for them and they were wise enough to know it.
His daughter currently had seven suitors asking for her hand. She had turned down all of them and instead decided to attend the university in the city. Deckard realized he shouldn’t have been worried about boys; he should have been worried about her thirst for knowledge. She was the only woman attending the medical apprenticeship and was on track to become the first woman physician.
All of that brought him to the present and the reason he was standing uncomfortably in the throne room. Queen Ashira had decided that his contributions to society deserved a reward. Her and her husband, the King, wanted to honor him for his betterment of humanity. It was his intention to decline the honor; he was making up for his mistakes.
“Deckard,” he heard a woman say and he looked up.
A very pregnant Celia stood before him and his daughter exclaimed, “Celia?”
“Surprise!” She said and walked towards them with a smile on her face. “I never thought I would see you two again.”
“What are you doing here?” Evanora asked.
Celia held out her arms and Evanora went to hug her. Her large stomach got in the way and the two of them laughed. Deckard couldn’t believe he was seeing her after all these years. He wondered why she was there.
“I am here as an ambassador for the north,” Celia said with a smile. “When I found out who Ashira was honoring I just stuck around a few extra days.”
“You are really pregnant,” Evanora said touching her stomach. The large man who was with her last time walked into the room with four children hanging off of him.
“Daddy put me down!” The girl yelled as she wiggled on his shoulder.
The other girl was pushing at his face and protesting while two twin boys held onto his legs, riding his feet. The two boys were laughing hysterically and yelling something about ‘horsey.’ Deckard’s jaw fell open at the sight.
“Children!” Celia said with love all over her face. “Play time is over! Come and meet our honored guest.”
“Awe!” All of them said as the big man put them down and the boys rolled off his feet.
The children all stood and came to stand in a line in front of Celia. Evanora had to cover her mouth to keep her giggling in check. Deckard finally remembered to close his mouth; this was not at all the way he had expected the seat of power in a kingdom to be. He had expected it to be more formal.
“Deckard,” Celia said once the man was standing next to her, “this is my daughter, Nyra, the princess Mercella, daughter of the princess Lisbeth, and these two little troublemakers are their royal highnesses Prince Rodrick and Prince Rodni, heirs to the Water Throne.” The girl’s curtsied and the boys did an awkward bow as Celia added, “Children, this is Otto Deckard; he was the one who invented the flying machines I told you about.”
The boys immediately perked up and little Rodrick asked, “It is true you made metal fly?”
“Yes,” Deckard said though he didn’t like being remembered for that, “And I have made many other inventions as well.”
“You made other things fly?” Little Rodrick asked, as Rodni stared at him with big round eyes.
“Not exactly,” Deckard said as a woman dressed in clothes from Roanoak entered the room.
“You must be Otto Deckard,” the woman said with a thin crown on her head. “I am Queen Ashira, it is an honor.”
He bowed to her and she tipped her head to him as Evanora stared at her, transfixed. Deckard had to admit that Ashira was beautiful and there was a glow about her. The boys suddenly became model princes and stopped their fidgeting.
“It is my honor,” Deckard managed though his mouth was dry.
“You said there was an urgent matter,” Queen Ashira said as the boys glanced at her nervously.
“I wanted to decline your offer to honor me,” Deckard said and Evanora shot him a surprised look. “I do not deserve to be honored.”
“I disagree,” Queen Ashira said.
“I made those flying machines,” Deckard explai
ned. “I caused everything.”
“Hadrian caused everything,” Queen Ashira said and there was sadness in her eyes, “for good and bad. What you have done since then labels you as a humanitarian. I will not change my mind.”
“You knew,” Deckard said glancing at Celia, “and you still want to honor me?”
“Yes,” Queen Ashira responded.
“Then I cannot refuse,” Deckard said as he tried not to cry from relief.
“Wonderful,” she said clapping her hands together, “Boys, back to your studies.”
They groaned as Celia laughed and said, “All of you, back to your studies.”
Celia waddled out of the room with her husband on her tail. Queen Ashira touched her arm when she walked by; the two women shared a moment. Then the Queen turned her attention back to Deckard. A moment later a stern looking man with a smile on his face touched both of the boys’ heads as they left before coming to stand next to his wife.
The Water King was not as Deckard had imagined him. He was handsome that was certain, but he also held himself in such a way that suggested he was a happy man. On his heel was a slightly older man, perhaps twice Evanora’s age. He had the face of an honest man.
“Deckard,” Queen Ashira said as she slipped her arm into her husband’s arm. “This is King Eliron and Lancel Storm our most trusted knight.”
“This is my daughter, Evanora,” Deckard said and found his daughter’s cheeks were flushed. “I am flattered by your gesture to honor me.”
Deckard scrutinized the knight. There didn’t appear to be anything particularly remarkable about him, but for some reason his daughter kept making nervous glances in his direction. Deckard didn’t like that one bit.
“My wife tells me that you were the first woman to undertake her program for all gender apprentices,” King Eliron addressed Evanora. “If you do well, perhaps we will find you a position here in the castle.”
“I would like that,” she squeaked.
Deckard liked that even less. “She has to finish first,” he said pointedly
“Until then,” Eliron said kissing his wife’s temple before he and Lancel left.
Deckard frowned as Ashira smiled and said graciously, “I believe this is the beginning of something wonderful.”
His frown deepened as he grumbled, “Don’t have girls, my Queen, you will never survive them.”
Notes from the Author
Every decision we make has repercussions, for good or bad. That is what this story was about. Five people in five very different circumstances that go forward in life and make choices that have intended and unintended consequences. One person takes an impulsive action and like a stone striking a still pond, it ripples out. In short this is about the butterfly effect and that choices you make do matter.
This is a standalone novel, but if you enjoyed it, I’d appreciate you leave a review at your favorite retailer.
Happy reading,
K.T. Munson
Other Titles by K.T. Munson
1001 Islands
The sliver of moonlight cast eerie shadows across the deck of The Dark Revenge. The Silence at the helm stood embracing the obscurity. His foreboding presence matched the anticipation aboard the ship, and no one spoke for fear they would break the stillness that encompassed them.
Tonight, everything changed.
The Dark Revenge gained on the Regatta. The raiders said nothing but he could hear the shuffle of taut female clothing and the tension in the air. It hadn’t sensed their existence, and drifted like heedless prey. Princess Roxana slept, unsuspecting of what was hunting her in the inky blackness of the night.
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