by T R Kerby
Darkness shall seize the Light
and bend it to its will.
That will not happen. It must not. He buckled his sword belt around his hips. There was another line he must hold fast to and never forget.
But break, it will not,
For strength lies in it still.
If the first lines referred to his son, the next must also. Brannon would not break under this pressure, nor any other. Bend, but not break.
A faint tap on his door interrupted his thoughts. He opened it a crack and sunlight poured in.
"Are they asleep?" Thera asked.
He nodded.
"I brought you this." She gave him a worn, red book, the title faded from the cover. "Murdoc wanted you to have it."
He rested it on his leather clad stump and opened it. The ancient Zinotti leapt out at him. Exhilaration thundered through him. This book held some of the keys he sought, for both himself and his twins.
Thera smiled. "It is what I thought."
"Where did Murdoc get this?"
"She said she stole it, but not from where."
Tegedir knew where. Lyov's library. "Will you stay a while? So they don't wake up alone."
"Sure." Thera slipped past him into the room.
He left the door open to the crisp autumn morning and walked to the waterfall. As the fall rumbled into the creek below, he sat in the sun and read the book through. Many questions answered, many more raised.
Where was his own twin sister, Kaeda? More than ever, he wanted answers to the questions of his origins. Why was he hidden? Perhaps because of his own foretold children? If so, who would not want them to exist, and would hunt them if they did? Life was more complex than it had ever been. New enemies grew from the corners of his imagination.
Movement behind him caused him to jump. Brannon came from the trees and crawled on the rock next to him. Tegedir hugged him, then let him be.
Brannon's gaze followed the stream as it rushed toward the end of the valley, where it would fall once more before joining the river. His eyes were misty, but his back was straight. He clasped his hands together in his lap. "This is Murdoc's fault. If she hadn't stolen us, Ma would be alive."
"It appears that way, but it goes deeper. All the way back to when she was younger than Thera. Never forget it was Caeth who killed your mother, and Murdoc who saved your sister."
"And Thera."
"And Thera. Things aren't always what they seem. Nor as simple as we'd like."
"You killed Caeth?" Brannon turned his gaze to his father.
He wanted to protect his son from this aspect of their lives, but it was a reality of how they lived. Violence and danger surrounded his child, whether Tegedir liked it or not. "I did."
"Did you enjoy it?"
Tricky slope, this one. Tegedir didn't want to slide too far. "There's a part of me that wanted revenge. It's a dark and dangerous part that lives in all of us and we have to keep it under control or it will control us instead. When Caeth killed your mother, I lost my grip on it, and it overpowered me. It never should have happened, but it did."
"I wish I killed him."
"There will be too much death in your life as it is without wishing for more." Another piece of Tegedir's heart shattered as a single tear rolled down Brannon's cheek. How many pieces remained? Was his heart big enough to lose another chunk? He cupped the boy's fragile face in his palm and wiped away the tear with his thumb.
"Will we ever see her again?"
"Your mother?"
"Yeah."
What comfort could Tegedir offer? He could assure him they'd be together again, that his mother waited, but he didn't know if it was true and false comfort was the same as a lie. Brannon didn't want lies. He wanted his mother. "I don't know what exists beyond the confines of our world. I believe something does, but I can't promise you what I don't know myself." He tucked Brannon into the crook of his arm and the boy leaned against him. "What I can promise you is we'll get through this. You, me, and Neva."
"Together?"
Tegedir kissed the crown of black hair on his son's head. "Together."
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Thank You
Hello, dear reader! I hope you enjoyed the story. Thank you for spending some of your precious time letting me entertain you. I am grateful and honored that you chose my book from among the many available.
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About the Author
T. R. Kerby has led a life of high adventure and travel to exotic places… ok, not so much, but she has worn a lot of hats. She has been a fry cook, a trail guide, a horse trainer, and a veterinary technician as well as other interesting things. Her weaknesses include chocolate and rescuing lost souls, mostly animals, but sometimes people. She currently lives in the Rocky Mountains with some of her rescues including her husband, two dogs, and a herd of horses. She brings her varied life experiences to the table in her books and short stories.
www.trkerby.com
Also by T R Kerby
The Order Chronicles
Beyond Darkness
Books with DJ Davis
Crimson Falls
Books by co-author DJ Davis
Courageous Cain
Summer Star
Calpulli