“I’m not hurt, Mother. Not physically.”
Horgon glanced at him and gently pushed Zenora forward. She rushed over and grabbed him. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him close and rubbed the back of his head.
Everything he’d tried to hold back rushed forward once he was safely in her arms. The crushing weight of loss pushed past his efforts to maintain control, and he wept on her shoulder.
“It was supposed to be me,” he whispered through his sobs.
Zenora stroked his hair, whispering words of comfort he didn’t hear. It gave him time to compose himself enough to straighten up. The empty space inside remained, but he’d gained a measure of control. Seeing Nerti, Horgon, and Natice nearly unraveled him again.
Horgon kept his eyes closed and his hand on Natice’s back as if he’d collapse otherwise. Would he welcome Farrell’s presence or would it be too painful? Before he could decide, Nerti walked toward him.
“We have come full circle, wizard. The day we met at this spot you saved Northhelm; today you saved Nendor. I’m so proud of you.”
Farrell ignored the praise and pressed his head against hers.
“Though it is small comfort, I love you. For as long as you need me, I’ll not leave your side.”
“You will always be a great joy to me, Little One.” She leaned closer. “Though the cost was great, we did what we had to this day.”
They stood, connected by their loss. His mother, Rothdin, Grohl, and Hesnera joined them. He sensed others had walked over, but he didn’t open his eyes.
They remained huddled in silence until Rothdin moved and stepped back. Having had his eyes closed for so long, Farrell squinted in the bright light.
It felt like half of Haven had walked onto Gharaha, with more arriving every heartbeat. Meglar’s death made it safe to leave the sanctuary. For many it would be the first step toward going home.
Haven had been Farrell’s home since he could remember. Now it would forever be a place to avoid. He didn’t know where he would go, but he and the children would find a place far from Haven, and Trellham and Ardus.
He saw a contingent of dwarves approaching and thought he recognized Jagwin. This time there would be no discussion. In his mind he’d already abdicated every position and title he’d held. He’d given Nendor enough. The world could get by without him.
As he considered his words, a group of unicorns exited the massive gates. He recognized Kel at the head, but his grandfather obscured the others. Kel looked different. In the past he’d dressed in a wizard’s robe, but now he wore formal court attire. For the first time since they’d met, he wore a crown to contain his long white hair. The red jewel atop his staff sparkled as they moved. This was Kel, the wizard king of legend.
The small group broke into an easy gallop, and people parted to give him room.
When they were close enough for Farrell to make out the riders, he frowned and looked at those around him.
“Why did he bring Lisle, the nannies, and the children?”
“You will need to ask him when he arrives,” Rothdin said.
Grenda moved up until she was side by side with Flemin. Beatrice said something to Kel. He nodded and stared at Farrell. They slowed as they drew nearer.
“I am proud beyond words, Halloran,” Kel said when they arrived. “As I always knew, you proved yourself without equal this day. I only wish victory hadn’t cost us so much.”
Farrell slammed his shields up just before his emotions leaked out. “Thank you, Grandfather.”
“I, too, wish to express my admiration, Halloran,” Beatrice said. “You are worthy of every accolade you have been given.”
He nodded toward the elderly wizards. “I had not expected to see you again, Grand Master. Especially not outside your forest home.”
“Where the Six are involved, you can never be sure what will happen.” She gave him an odd smile.
“Papa! Papa!” Geena squirmed in Lisle’s lap.
Her activity sparked a like reaction from Bren. “Papa!”
Much to the delight of his children, Farrell used a bit of power to bring them to him. He hugged and kissed them, and they squeezed his face against theirs. He stole a glance at Jolella, and she gave him a nod as if to remind him of what she’d said.
“I hadn’t expected you to bring the children,” he said to Kel. Although not a rebuke, Farrell made sure he didn’t sound grateful.
“I wouldn’t have, but… I was told to bring them.”
His grandfather only took orders from the Six. Farrell had hoped his time of answering to the Six had ended with Meglar’s death. If how They treated Kel was any indication, only death would bring Farrell peace.
His grandfather’s countenance told Farrell to let it go. There would be no further information given. He nodded and gave his full attention to Geena and Bren.
Holding his children didn’t heal his wound, but it gave him something else to fill his heart. When Geena began to twist and crane her neck, he tightened his shields and braced for what was coming.
“Shield us,” he said to everyone around him except Geena. “She’s going to ask about Miceral.”
As if she’d heard him, Geena’s face lost its smile. “Where’s our other daddy?”
Despite anticipating the question, Farrell couldn’t wall off all the pain. He swallowed and fought back the tears. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Daddy won’t be coming back.”
“Why not?” A wave of panic hit him, and he noticed the others react.
“He was protecting us from the bad man, but some of the bad man’s soldiers took him and now he can’t come back.”
“You mean like my real mommy and daddy?” Her worst fears had taken hold, and Bren started to cry.
His throat was so tight he couldn’t answer. The first drop rolled down his cheek as he nodded to his daughter.
“No!” She buried her face against his shoulder. “Papa, bring him back! Please! Grandpa says you’re the most important person. Bring him back!”
“I can’t, sweetie. There are some things even Grandpa and I can’t do.” Anger and helplessness welled up as he watched Geena’s distress. He handed Bren to Zenora and gently rubbed Geena’s back. “I wish I could bring him back, but I promise I’ll never leave you.”
She sobbed against him, and he stroked her hair. The strained looks on everyone around him didn’t help.
“I am keeping everyone’s emotions away from her,” Hesnera said. “But you are in contact with her, so I can’t block yours.”
“I’ll keep mine from her.” He closed his eyes and tried to comfort Geena.
“K’ssmor!” Bren said, clapping his hands.
Farrell reached over and rubbed his son’s head. “He’s not here, Bren. That’s Flemin, Grandpa’s friend.”
“K’ssmor!” he yelled again, pointing behind him this time.
Geena straightened in his arms before Farrell could look where Bren pointed.
“Daddy!”
Chapter 42
“DADDY!” GEENA shouted again as Farrell tried to keep her from falling. She clapped and pointed in the same direction as her brother. People gasped, and he turned around.
Farrell blinked twice before he accepted what his eyes beheld. Three figures walked across the blackened plains. Two unicorns and a human—or a Muchari—made their way toward him at a measured pace. His heart pounded, and he struggled not to hope for the impossible. He glanced down and his amulet lay in the dirt where it fell.
Geena continued to call out “Daddy” as loud as she could. She waved and bounced in his arms.
“Nerti? Is that… who is that?”
“Like you, I believe it is Klissmor, Miceral, and Nordric, but they will not answer my call.”
“But… they’re… they died, didn’t they?”
“I felt Klissmor’s death as clearly as you felt Miceral’s. I have no answers.”
Nerti moved closer, and he set Geena on her back. Bren made a ruckus until he scooped
him up from Zenora and set him in front of his sister. All the time he kept his attention on the approaching trio.
Conversations ceased as everyone waited for events to unfold. Farrell wasn’t prepared to address Miceral’s ghost, if such a thing were even possible.
Geena stopped yelling but continued to wave. Happy vibes flowed from her and but for Hesnera, she’d have made everyone around them giddy.
“Daddy’s back.” She waved again for emphasis. “See, Papa? Daddy’s back.”
“I see, sweetheart,” he said.
By now the three had come close enough that he could see them clearly. That, however, only raised Farrell’s anxiety, not just for himself but also for his daughter.
Miceral limped across the field, his left arm hung lifeless at his side. He held the stump of a sword in his right hand, and he had blood all over his clothing.
Klissmor walked without the grace of a unicorn. There was a hitch in his gait, his right eye was swollen shut, and he had cuts on both sides that bled so much that half his coat appeared red. Blood no longer flowed from the wounds, but his pace was slow and deliberate.
Nordric walked behind the pair. His gait spoke of no injuries, but his aura was dimmer. He appeared less ethereal than the last time Farrell had seen him. Each time his father or Miceral stumbled, Nordric lost a bit more of his light.
Fifty feet from the Sources, they stopped. Nordric scanned the crowd before settling on Farrell and Nerti.
“Mother, Chosen, please join us. Everyone else, remain where you are.” His voice at least still carried the force of the Six.
“I’ll not leave the children.” Farrell couldn’t risk leaving Geena if Miceral winked away in a flash.
“Bring them with you.”
Farrell raised an eyebrow at the terse command. He hadn’t expected that reply.
“Are they alive or spirits?” he asked Nerti.
“I don’t know.” Frustration and anger dripped from her words “Nordric won’t respond to my questions.”
Farrell steeled himself for not only his own pain, but the children’s as well. His feet felt heavy as he approached the unknown. They stopped a few paces from Miceral and Klissmor.
“I’m so proud of you, Farrell,” Miceral said with a sad smile. “I always knew you’d win.”
“Our link went cold and I felt you… I felt you leave.” He glanced over when Geena moved and shifted to mind speak. “Are you dead?”
He hadn’t meant to blurt it out, but he needed to know he wasn’t exchanging small talk with one of the dead.
“Father and Miceral are alive but need help,” Nordric said. “They reside with me, neither of this world nor of the world of the gods. To you they appear dead because they do not live on Nendor anymore.
“It was to be my last gift to you and my mother to return them to the living, but I am unable to complete my task.”
“Last gift?” Farrell looked to Nerti, but she had her attention fixed on Klissmor. He turned back to Miceral. “I don’t understand.”
“Nordric wasn’t supposed to interfere in our deaths. When he pulled us into… wherever we are, he linked us together. To send us back to our world, he has to give us his energy—all of it. We’d be alive again, but he’d die. Klissmor and I won’t let him do that.”
Farrell’s brief moment of hope evaporated. He shook his head as tears rolled down his cheeks. If they wouldn’t agree, why…. He lifted his head and made eye contact with Nordric. “You knew they wouldn’t accept your offer. Why did you bring them here?”
“My life is mine to give as I choose. Just as Miceral and Father gave their lives to defeat Meglar, I plan to give my life for theirs.”
“You need to let me go, Farrell,” Miceral said. “Tell him he can’t sacrifice himself for me.”
“I know.” The lump in his throat threatened to choke him. “I… I can’t.”
“You have to.” Miceral closed his eyes. “I couldn’t live with myself knowing Nordric traded his life for mine.”
“I couldn’t either, but it’s so hard to let go. I don’t want to spend even a day without you, but I can’t leave the children.” He felt his control slipping and took a moment to keep his shields up to keep his emotions from Geena. “It wasn’t worth winning if it meant I lost you.”
“Yes, it was, Farrell,” Miceral said. “Too many people would have suffered if you’d lost. You’d never have abandoned them. Not even for me.”
“If you’d lost, even your mate would have died,” Nordric said. “You saved the world today, Champion. Now let me save your true love.”
“No!” Farrell held out his hand. “The cost would be too great.”
“Daddy,” Geena said, her face tight with concern. “You’re hurt.”
“I know, sweetie, but it doesn’t hurt anymore. It’ll be all better soon.” Miceral struggled to breathe. “I’m afraid I have to go now, Geena. Be good and help Papa take care of Bren for me.”
Any hope he had of being strong for his children faded as his lover bade their daughter goodbye. The ring of finality was too great. A sob escaped and he couldn’t stop his tears.
“No, Daddy!” Geena screamed. “Don’t go! I don’t want you to go! Please don’t go! I’ll be good, I promise.”
Her plea wrenched at Farrell’s already frayed emotions. As he tried to comfort his grieving daughter, he locked eyes with Miceral and saw his own anguish reflected back.
“You’ve always been good, Geena,” Miceral said. “I love you and Bren and Papa so much. I don’t want to go, but I can’t help it. Remember we talked about how people don’t live forever? Well, sweetie, I got hurt real bad in the fight, and Nordric tried to help me, but it was too late. I don’t want to leave, but I have to go.”
Geena turned away and almost fell off Nerti’s back. Farrell grabbed her and let her cling to him as she cried. It hurt too much to look at Miceral. Sooner than later they’d have to say goodbye. He couldn’t put it off forever, but he wasn’t ready yet. Instead, he looked at Nerti and Klissmor.
He’d never seen Nerti so close to collapse. Until that moment, he hadn’t realized how much he’d come to depend on her unshakable presence. But even she had a breaking point.
“It’s okay to go, Nerti,” he said. “Your place is with Klissmor, not me or anyone else. For once in your long life, think of what’s best for you.”
“I can’t leave you.”
“Yes, you can. You belong with Klissmor.” He could barely speak the words mentally. He lifted Bren off her back. “It was my privilege… to ride with you and… and I’ll always cherish our time, but… I love you, Nerti. Go be at peace.”
Hoping it would help her make her decision, he walked closer to Miceral.
“Goodbye, Ral.” He squeezed his eyelids tight trying to collect himself. “I never had enough chances to… tell you… how much… how much I love you.”
He cried so hard he couldn’t speak. Gritting his teeth, he used every technique he knew to find his center. If he didn’t gain control, he risked doing permanent harm to Geena. Finally he opened his eyes. “I love you, Miceral.”
“And I love you.” Miceral used the back of his good hand to wipe his tears. “I… I didn’t… I don’t… I didn’t realize Nordric would bring us here, but I’m glad I got to say goodbye.”
“I am too, even if it breaks my heart. You were everything you promised and more. I only… I only wish… we had more time is all.” With a child in each hand, he couldn’t wipe the tears from his eyes.
“We’ll have eternity together, I promise.” Miceral forced a smile.
The attempt to put on a brave face didn’t make Farrell feel better. He turned to Nordric, hoping he’d say something, but he didn’t. Lenore’s messenger held Farrell’s gaze without flinching.
“I….” Farrell closed his eyes again. “I should…. Thank you for the chance to say goodbye.”
“You do not need to say goodbye. Convince your mate to….”
“I can’t.�
�� He opened his eyes and faced Miceral. “If the cost were something else….”
Farrell didn’t know how long much longer they’d have, so he focused on Miceral. “I love you.”
“We need to go,” Klissmor said. “We’ve refused your offer and said our goodbyes. Remaining here only hurts those we love.”
“We cannot go, Father,” Nordric said.
“Why not!” Miceral asked. “Why are you doing this to them?”
Nordric shook his head and stared over Farrell and Nerti.
“Hor’us,” Bren said, breaking the awkward silence. “Hor’us!”
Bren reached up and waved at the sky. Farrell and Miceral looked where their son’s tiny arm directed. Behind him, Farrell heard others gasp.
Honorus led His siblings in their direction. They marched across the sky as if walking on a solid road. When They stopped walking, They descended and stood to Farrell’s left.
Farrell sank to his knees, careful not to drop his children. He kept his gaze on the charred ground until a pair of giant boots came into view.
“Rise and stand before Us,” Honorus said.
Farrell set Geena down and stood before his god. He held her hand, keeping Bren in his right arm. Drawing a breath, he raised his head.
Honorus no longer towered over him. He beamed with pride as he looked at Farrell. “With courage and love you fulfilled your destiny. This day you saved Nendor from darkness and misery. I am proud of you, Halloran. You have My thanks and blessings.”
Lenore stepped forward to join Her brother. She smiled and Farrell nodded. “I echo My Brother’s words. You have prevented unimaginable suffering, and Nendor stands at the cusp of a new era. For what you accomplished, I give My blessings and thanks. For what you have lost, you have My sympathy.”
Farrell accepted Her words with a nod. He didn’t trust himself not to yell at Them for taking Miceral from him. Without Meglar looming over them, he and Miceral could have planned their family’s future. Could have if Miceral had survived.
When he looked up, he found Seritia had stepped forward and watched him. Their eyes met, and She appeared sad. Seeing grief in the face of the Goddess of Love unnerved him, but She spoke before he could react. “True love produces painful times when death separates lovers. That which is strongest cuts deepest when it ends abruptly.”
When Heroes Fall Page 57