“The pendant kept my physical form alive by preserving my soul. Guillaud never learned that entirely. The wraith could never travel anywhere without the stone, for it protected its right, its claim on my body. Thus, I need to wear this necklace to preserve my claim.”
Kara interjected as some of the puzzle came together for her. “But won’t the stone steal your soul again? And you will be back in the same bind?”
Euphoria looked lost for an answer. “That I don’t know. Maybe your wizard might know, but he….”
“I know.” And silence settled between them. Kara’s mind worked this whole magic idea. “So when I smashed the mirror, I broke this wraith’s claim on Euphoria? I mean on you? Or….”
The princess chuckled at her stumbling over the words. “I’m going by Euphoria, because that’s who I look like. But you are correct. Guillaud gathered up as much midnight core as he could. He made a mirror with it.”
“So he used the mirror to capture and hold the wraith? But why did the wraith want the necklace?”
“I don’t have all the answers. My guess is the creature thought that if it could bond with the necklace, it could leave the mirror behind. It is much easier traveling with a necklace than a mirror.”
Kara looked content but also had more questions. Euphoria saw this and walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. The necklace pulsed.
“I mainly wanted to come and say thank you. Also to make sure you were doing okay. I was afraid that you too were in a deep sleep like your wizard friend.”
“I seem to be okay. Other than my injury.”
Euphoria nodded. “I am deeply sorry for everything that befell you and your friends. Even though I had little to do with this mirror, the king, or the Witch Guard, I still feel responsible. But you, your friends, and family have nothing to worry about from the crown. Faldoa sees me as the princess, probably queen soon. I’ll make the new rules. You will be left alone.”
“But what of the captain, Kreitan?” Kara worried.
The princess smiled. “I forget that you were unconscious during the aftermath. The shockwave of magic did something to his mind. Since he has awoken, he clucks like a chicken. We aren’t sure if it is temporary or permanent. But you should not worry.”
“And the other soldiers? What if they remember and come after us?” Kara asked, still not satisfied.
At that moment, Jesset poked his head out the door. “Does anyone need anything?” He mainly directed the question at Kara.
“No, I need to be going. Being in charge of a kingdom is not an easy chore.” Euphoria said and turned toward the door.
“Your Highness?” The royal term felt odd speaking it. “May I ask one more thing?”
“Of course.”
“Where is the real Euphoria? I mean her spirit, her soul?”
It took the princess a moment to answer, a look of pondering on her face. “I really don’t know. My spirit somehow ended up in her body. The mirror is shattered, and so I don’t know if she’s trapped in there with the wraith or trapped in this necklace…or gone.”
Kara listened, taking it all in. She nodded.
“Thank you, all. The crown is in debt to you.” Euphoria said and then turned to Jesset, Kirt and Kara. “You do not need to worry about the Witch Guard. I don’t think they will be around for very much longer. Taylon here will be captain of my Royal Guard.”
Euphoria embraced Kara before the group walked out to the battlefield. The signs of the struggle were still visible: the charred rubble left from the carriage, a sword, and two broken crossbow bolts.
Dante’s body was gone, but as Kara looked around, she noticed two new graves close to the forest; one tiny and one regular sized. Wildflowers covered each, as did a small pile of stones at the head.
Euphoria mounted her horse. “Dispose of the mirror’s frame. I am having the pieces scattered, buried and hopefully lost forever. If the wraith is trapped there, I don’t want anyone able to put that mirror back together.”
And with that, the two riders departed. Kara stood and watched them, even when their small forms disappeared on the horizon. Hambone came to stand beside her.
Her old life had ended in a matter of days. New friends met and then a few departed. She didn’t know what the future held for her, but it would at least be bearable with her friends along for the ride.
Epilogue
Finally, the wall. Katrena cursed as she carefully made her way along it towards her secret door. Under her arm, she still clutched the mahogany box she’d taken from Kreitan. Furious could not begin to describe the way she was feeling.
She was still angry and exhausted from the interrogation room. Patience was not always a virtue of hers, but Katrena had been tolerant in order to escape. Her bonds weakened with the help of some magic, and her lock-picking skills came in handy when dealing with the door.
Overpowering the guard was child’s play and perhaps luck. His uniform sufficed for an escape, at least out of the castle. The ill-fitting clothes stood out in the marketplace and made running difficult.
A merchant in a corner booth hawked his wares, drawing her attention. Few other humans paid him any mind. A casual word and a swift uppercut had him at her disposal. His tunic and turban made a better disguise than the short guard uniform. A smile flitted across Katrena’s face as she remembered the merchant’s face when he realized her true intentions.
Now searching for her wagon, she skirted a group of soldiers standing at the mouth of the alley where she had left her conveyance and horses.
“Halt!”
Katrena ran. She dodged and weaved and managed to elude her pursuers until she found herself alone in the dark in the countryside, Katrena tried to steal a mule from a peasant’s stable. The animal refused to budge and the dark elf gave up when the animal started to become vocal. She decided to make the long walk back to her home.
By morning, she had reached the wall. She was almost safe but she still held onto her anger. Anger toward the king, anger towards Kreitan, and even more toward that little brat Kara who’d stolen her wagon. Her goal now was to make it home, clean up, and then decide what to do. Revenge was first and foremost in her mind. Once reaching the door, which stood open, Katrena had a partial plan and list of those who were going to pay for crossing her.
Kreitan would be first. That she was sure of. No one got away with torturing her. She had his box, which would make a talk with the captain even more pleasant for her. A smile briefly hinted upon her scowling face as she stepped through the door.
Next on her list would be Kara. Katrena had a feeling that brat had taken the wagon, her wagon. She probably had her necklace right now too. She might not kill the girl, but a little pain, a little agony, wouldn’t go amiss. Something to set the girl straight.
And, of course, the crown. Someone on high had ordered her taken. King, queen, princess, all would die, if need be. No one messed with Katrena and lived to tell about it.
But first, she needed to get home and prepare. Prepare well.
ABOUT SCOTT J. KRAMER
Ever since Scott’s mother denied naming him Scott Fitzgerald Kramer, writing has been in his blood. He watched his grandfather use an old-fashioned typewriter to compose memories about his grandmother. Finding out quickly that typewriters didn’t like him, Scott began carrying a scrap of paper and a pencil. Word processing changed his fate.
Scott lives in Cincinnati with his beautiful wife and adorable little girl. During the day, Scott, as Mr. Kramer, terrorizes sixth grade students, forcing them to read and write. Slowly, they come to realize that reading is fun and writing is something they have to do to pass his class.
Kara is Scott’s first novel in the Territory Series. Soon to follow will be Euphoria and Taylon, books two and three. You can visit Scott online at: http://scottjkramer.wordpress.com/
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