The Nightstone (29 page)

“I’ll know when you’re ready,” Thomas said. “The gate will be open for you on that day.” He held out a leather satchel. “This is heavy, but you’ll want to take it with you.”

Heather took the bag and nearly dropped it. “Gods, this must weigh half of what I do,” she said. “This is Pantros’s gold, isn’t it.”

“I’ll pay him back,” Thomas said. He handed Kehet a rolled paper tied in a blue ribbon.
“My I.O.U. for Pantros.”
Then, to Heather he said, “Don’t worry.” He reached up and set his crystal in the socket and called a name Kehet didn’t catch. The portal shimmered.

Without looking back, Heather stepped through.

Kehet and Thomas stood silently for a moment staring at the gate then Thomas took the crystal out and the portal vanished.

“I hate you a little bit right now,” Kehet said.

“She’ll be happier without the risk of destruction,” Thomas said. “You will find happiness too. I know your future and hers. This is where your paths part.”

“Forever?”
Kehet asked.

“There is only so much of a man’s future I am willing to disclose,” Thomas said. “Now, tell me what you are going to do without the ring.”

“The ring was a gift from you,” Kehet said. “From what I can gather about you, I don’t think the ring had any magic. I don’t need it to be who I am.”

“There are all kinds of magic, Kehet. Some are less mystical than others. The ring had no magical energy, but it did give you the focus you needed to believe in the change. Really, it was just something I gave you so you’d have something to give Heather when she left. Your melancholy won’t last as long as you’re thinking it will. Right now, the best thing for you is to go back and enjoy the company of your new friends. Me, I’ve got to put more leagues between me and my younger self. He’s just not ready for prolonged exposure to himself,
myself
, yet.” He waved and walked off, away from the city.

Kehet shifted and ran back into the city.

§

“No, it was an older Thomas that gave Heather your gold,” Kehet explained again to the young man whose satchel Heather took with her. “He said he’d pay you back. This is between you, Heather and Thomas.”

“I’m penniless,” Pantros said. “Well, mostly penniless. I have to go all the way back to Ignea to fill my purse.”

“I haven’t touched a coin since several days before I realized who I am. Penniless, as a temporary state, is nothing more than an opportunity to find out what resources you really
have.
As a permanent state, it’s probably a very sad life, but I’m sure you’ll find a pocket to pick if you get desperate,” Kehet said. He handed Pantros the rolled piece of paper. “Thomas left an I.O.U. for you.”

“If I did that kind of thing anymore,” Pantros said. “I had planned on being retired from the life in the shadows. I’m going to build a castle on the edge of a mountain in my Stewardship and relax and enjoy the view.” Pantros then unrolled the paper. He studied it a moment before saying, “This is not a letter of credit; it’s a letter telling me that a couple weeks after we left Ignea, Bouncer and the rest of the staff followed, avoiding a gang-war. They’re walking to Fork, but should be there by the time we get there. James is travelling by sea with several heavy chests. Someone told him where to find all of my stashes. He’ll be in Fork when we arrive as well. It mentions an inn by Westgate I’d have sworn was a boarded-up building.”

“Did I hear you mention a Stewardship?” Estephan asked as he stepped into the conversation. “You think after everything you’ve done you deserve a Stewardship?”

Pantros looked taken aback. Kehet recalled that the boy had stolen part of the crown and from some perspectives it was the boy who brought all kinds of trouble to the world. “But, I already gave you the jewels. I paid for the land,” Pantros said.

Estephan laughed. “We’ve fought side by side, Pantros. That makes us brothers and a brother of a King can be nothing less than a Duke.”

Kehet noticed that Estephan now wore the Crown of Relarch. Allaind must have crowned him while Kehet was off saying goodbye to Heather. Estephan stumbled slightly but Kehet nudged him back into balance.

“My apologies,” Estephan said. “They say I should be in bed, but I had things to do once Allaind insisted on making me accept that I am King of Relarch.”

Pantros said, unsure, “If I’m a Duke, then that makes my land a Duchy?”

“Smart boy,” Estephan said. “Now, if you two would be so kind, could you carry me over to that fountain and sit me next to one of the maidens. It seems I need to start looking for a queen.”

CHAPTER 34: LADY GLACIA

Again, Glacia stood on her balcony overlooking the scar left by the mortal. She felt deep satisfaction that her endeavor had succeeded after so many years of plans and preparations. The thief, the archer, the swordsman and the new King had taken careful manipulations to fulfill her scheme. The Wizard had not been part of the plan. The damage had been a little more than she’d anticipated, but acceptable. Most of the damage was to the King’s Palace and his territories.

She was wondering if he’d even notice when, for the first time in ages she saw him walk out onto one of the many walls. He glanced down at the destruction and turned and walked back. He knew, but she was puzzled by how little he seemed to care. Osris of ages past would have flown into a rage, screaming for punishment of those involved. Not that she was worried no one would be able to trace the events to her. Only one being in Demia knew she had anything to do with it at all.

As if he’d heard her think of him, one of her heralds called out behind her, announcing the arrival of Kirvel. Being seen in public with such a low ranking demon would be suspicious so she stepped into her audience chamber and met him there. She poured herself into her throne and gave a sigh, letting the small demon know she was already bored of his presence.

Kirvel bowed, but not as deep as one of his
station
should. “
Milady,
is this where you give me my reward?” he asked. He had nerve, Glacia thought.

She’d had a small sack of iron coins on the floor by her throne, waiting for him. She tossed it to him. He didn’t make much effort to catch it and it bounced off his chest, knocking him back a couple steps.

“Money?”
Kirvel asked, though he took the sack from the ground by his feet. “I was expecting territory of my own. Maybe even Murdread’s territories.” Again the nerve of the imp nearly caused Glacia to lose her composure. But it was his brash demeanor that had caught her attention so many years earlier. He was the perfect combination of ballsy, ambitious and unimportant for her to manipulate.

“I give territory to minor lords with little or no ambition,” Glacia said. “If I gave Murdread’s land to you, in a decade or so I’d be doing the same thing to you as I did to Murdread. No, an ambitious little imp like you needs to take their own land.”

“What?” Kirvel asked. “I don’t want to take land. I’m fine with being given a leg up.”

“I’m not taking off your head and sending you back to the spawning pools,” Glacia said. “You could consider that your leg up.”

Glacia waved her hand, opening the portal near Kirvel to the far side of Demia.
Though the imp starting saying something in a shocked tone, Glacia didn’t hear the words.
She motioned to one of her guards. The large demon was simple but understood his job. He grabbed Kirvel and threw him through. “Good Luck,” she said, then closed the portal. If the ambitious imp did manage to make something of
himself
, it would be millennia before he or his influence made it around Demia. By then she’d come up with a way to use him again.

EPILOGUE

Though Kehet and Heather’s love was not meant to be, Beldithe’s blessings fell heavily on the other heroes of this tale.

Thomas and Tara complimented each other perfectly and opened the new place in Fork that Thomas had promised. They called it the Inn of the Moonsong.

Pantros, when learning that his tryst with Thomas’s sister was fruitful, invited her to join him as Duchess of Phyreshade, which was the name he gave the castle he was building. She accepted.

Pantros built his castle and a town sprung up around it. While digging out the stone for the castle, a gold vein was discovered. While the lion’s share went to the crown, with his share, he never had to steal again. That’s not to say he didn’t, but he didn’t have to.

Sheillene eventually came understand that she loved more than poking fun at Marc’s size.

More tales of adventure and more tales of love came after, due in no small part to the events of this tome, but those shall wait for another day and another story.