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“What about my husband!”
“It was reported that he suffered a number of lesser bodily injuries and a rather serious head wound, as well as the removal of one limb. Lord Quezada simply lost far too much blood.”
Sighing, and with tears coming to her eyes, Catherine ordered all the bodies to be preserved as to survive the trip home.
“So that’s how things went…” Guilden thought with bittersweet sentiment.
“Apprentice, preparations need to be made,” he shouted. “There should be enough time to have the sigils drawn in time for our guests’ arrival.
“Destroyed, I’m afraid,” he replied solemnly, displaying its head. “With this much, I’ve been told he may be rebuilt. I see that your men are unharmed, Lord Phillip.”
“Most certainly,” the general replied with a dubious smile.
“Did you not engage the enemy as ordered?”
“Of course not; it is a simple war tactic to wait until your enemies have exhausted themselves. Now that you are with us and safe, we may now crush the witch’s remaining forces. All men–”
“Halt!” James bellowed. “Today’s combat is at an end; we shall return to Dorn’s Down immediately.”
“My prince, you are young and unskilled; allow a more experienced–”
“Must I have you tried for treason?” James growled, startling the war veteran. “This is a direct order, you shall stand down.”
Phillip and his officers exchanges glances and nodded. “Yes, my lord, as you command.”
As the many horsemen reversed their direction, one of James subordinates approached. “Sir, are well? Never before have you displayed such force.”
“I…thank you for your concern, but I am well. Too much has been lost this day, and my father is far less honorable than I had believed.”
“Sir,” the knight began, quickly hushing his voice, “should you decide to usurp the throne, I and a number of others will support you.”
Taken aback by the unexpected statement, James nonetheless maintained composure and thanked the soldier.
Hearing this, Phae was quick to mention her master in Taiden and his competence in magic.
Quickly re-supplying, Catherine, Breanne, Phae, and enough soldiers to both carry the corpses and protect the group set off for Guilden’s tower.
“Master, you are aware of why I am here?”
“Of course; follow me, and bring the bodies along with you. I’m afraid my tower is a little small for a large gathering, so will those not involved please make yourselves at home in the main floor.”
All those who followed and entered the wizened man’s chamber of ceremonies were astonished by the complexity of the runes meticulously etched in every inch of the room even up along the marble altar that was in the center.
“You have been expecting us, haven’t you?” Catherine asked rhetorically.
“I’m afraid that even with all these preparations, I’ll only be able to revive four of your friends. Such is the penalty of living a full life.”
“It doesn’t bother you that I am an enemy of your king?”
“My tower is my own kingdom. Besides, after risking so much to end the slaadi threat, it is the least I can do.”
Cedric was the first to be chosen, and Guilden explained that without the original limbs, he’d be unable to fully rebuild his body.
Accepting this, everyone was asked to leave the room for the ceremony.
Hours later, the door opened for the half-golem to step out. The first person he saw was Breanne and he smiled. His eyes then found Catherine and the expression faded. “I still need to find a way out.”
It was next voted that the Siannodels would be revived next, though Lia should be handled first. When Faulkner finally emerged, he was moved to tears and elation upon seeing his wife alive once more.
“Now…then,” Guilden began, poking his head out of his room, breathing heavily, “please…bring in…the other…bodies…and Phae.”
The request was granted and the door was closed, leaving only the bodies, the master, and pupil.
“You’ve got a difficult decision to make,” Guilden declared, having caught his breath.
“I have to pick who gets to live?” Phae asked uneasily.
“It is your life that will be affected the most. You are sought after by both men, so who you want to be with ought to be your choice.”
“Great…I can be an outcast for life with someone who’s devoted, or I can be with a jealous soldier who might rape me,” as she thought this, her nightmare from the battle reappeared in her mind. “No…there’s no way Gregory would go that far. Just like how I could never live that comfortably with Lauren.”
“Do I need to decide quickly?”
“You may take the time to decide carefully, but it’d be best if your decision is made today.”
“If I do choose Lauren, I’ll be the one having to work, meaning I won’t be able to live in the lap of luxury, nor will I be able to relax because if it’s discovered that I’m harboring a drow, I’ll be killed. Then again…with Gregory as a soldier, I won’t be all that wealthy either. And if he really does get set off easily, then I still can’t relax.”
“I pick Lauren.”
Guilden smiled. “I had a feeling you would. Oh, and don’t worry about the body’s damage, it’s small enough to be restored.”
Politely exiting the room, Phae sat and waited in silence for the rite’s completion.
Cedric moved from the far end of the floor and sat next to her. “I’m not going to ask who you picked, but it must be nice, huh?”
“What do you mean by that?” she asked, lifting her head.
“Well, no matter what, you’re going to be with who you wanted. After everything is said and done, whether you’re happy with the result or not, it was you who decided that this was the best that could happen.”
“Thanks…I hope so…I just want things to work out.”
“You picked Da’Sart, didn’t you?”
Phae was a little bit startled by the comment. “Why do you…”
“I’ve been running from most of my problems, I’ve never had a stable or normal relationship, even with friends, and I’ve gone more or less berserk a few times in my life. Doesn’t mean I’m not rational. I know that you two have spent the most time together and you’d only ever toy around with Gregory. Not only was he a loose cannon but he was also a murder.”
“…Wait, a murderer?”
“You didn’t see that? During the fight, he backstabbed Lauren after being saved by him. If you looked at the body you’d clearly see the knife wound.”
Lowering her head once more, she thanked him before he got to his feet and moved back to the corner.
When it came time for the door to swing open one last time, Lauren stumbled from the room weakly. Upon seeing Phae his spirits momentarily rose, though only briefly for she then looked away.
“Congratulations,” Cedric called. “You were picked instead of your killer. You’re free to do whatever you want with you life,” he finished, sourly.
Catherine got to her feet, grabbed Cedric by his flesh arm, and pulled him to the building’s next floor.
“If this is what I think it’s about, it’s hardly appropriate to–”
“You hate me, don’t you?” she asked bluntly with a frown.
Scratching the back of his neck, he looked around at anything that would excuse him from eye contact.
“You’re in love with Breanne.”
“Of course I am!” he shouted. “Do you realize for just how long? When I was six, god-damn years old! I know better of you than to think you’re too stupid to not realize this, you just absorbed everything I told you and decided ‘what the Hell’.”
“You can calm down a–”
“No! Your father may have given me a job and repaired my body, but without Breanne, I’d have died before puberty! Before any other debt, promise, or obligation, she comes first. Here’s one thing I’m not even going to hide from you–”
“Cedric, I’m–”
“Shut up!” he yelled, cutting off her interruption. “I’m going to weasel out of this relationship the first chance I get! I don’t go back on my word, but that sure as Hell won’t stop me from finding loopholes!”
He panted after he was finished fuming and Catherine waited a few seconds before continuing.
“Now that you’re finished, I wanted to tell you that our marriage is annulled.”
Immediately, his jaw went slack. “P-pardon?”
“You wanted a loophole? Here it is: ‘til death do we part’. You were dead for over a month; you’re no longer bound to me. Go ahead and have a happy life; but you’re still responsible for mine.”
Tears began streaming down his face, though painful as a result of having crafted eyes, and he slumped to the floor.
“I’ll send her up for you,” she sighed, headed to the stairs. “And stop crying, it’s an embarrassment.”
Back below, one of the guards announced that Guilden had perished performing Lauren’s revival.
Breanne was quickly sent above while Catherine brought Brandon and the Siannodels one level below.
“What do you need us for?” Lia asked.
“As you can imagine, my kingdom has lost a great deal of power and influence as a result of the campaign. I need you, Quazit, to control one of my fiefs.”
“M-me? But I’m not a leader and my reputation–”
“Is beneficial; if enemy generals fear you as the Black Knight, then it will cause hesitation in plans to attack, along with fear in the hearts of those that do.”
“A basic terror strategy,” Faulkner uttered with a nod. “But where do the two of us become involved?”
“I saw you fight; you’re almost a demon. Your black wings alone project a frightening image. If rumors are spread that you are a fallen angel and the Black Knight’s guardian….”
Faulkner nodded. “You want for me to increase the influence of Brandon’s reputation while at the same time preventing him from losing it by having to fight.”
“Correct. Naturally, this will make you very wealthy.”
“We accept,” Lia declared immediately.
“Very good; I’ll have a messenger sent to Astir to make preparations. Now then, I have one last deal to handle.”
Poking her head up the stairs to the floor where the rest were waiting, she shouted for Lauren. “By my authority, you’re welcome in Astir. If you are to accept my invitation, you must become the liege’s guard.”
“You’re kindness belies your family’s reputation,” Lauren commented with an amused grin.
“My behavior is not without selfish motivation,” she replied. “Just have a lot of children, you two, so that the city’s reputation can grow.
Phae didn’t fully understand the queen’s comment, but she caught enough to allow her to cling to Lauren without feeling guilt or anxiety, though a few of the guards appeared somewhat ill at ease with things.
“Now that everyone knows where they’re supposed to be, we’re ready to return,” Catherine announced, signaling for the soldiers to get to their feet and follow her.
Breanne and Cedric descended the stairs and Cedric coughed to indicate he had something to say. “Despite this fortunate turn of events, in not just my life but everyone’s, I’m going to have to disappear. Unlike before, where I’d simply be running away, I’ll certainly come back a year from now; there are simply a few things I need to verify that I must do on my own.”
“Might I ask what?” Catherine inquired.
“It’s something personal,” Breanne replied. “He already explained it to me, and I can’t blame him for wanting to. I’ll see you in a year.”
Kissing him on the cheek, he smiled happily and made his way for the stairs.
Well, that ends this story; I'm glad that I was finally able to see a story to the 'end' (even if I'm not certain people are reading). Since there weren't any comments (and even if there were) I'll give away the other possibilies for the endings I could have used (by which I mean, all were outcomes Guilden predicted).
Alternative 1: Gregory makes it out alive along with a severely wounded Lauren, Faulkner, and James. Despite James orders and protests, Gregory kills Lauren in his weakened state and overcomes Faulkner for the same reason. James is killed when caught between Faulkner and Gregory. Gregory returned to the mage tower to have Phae brought back to life. His murders are realized and Guilden destroys him, but dies in the process.
Alternative 2: The group is annihilated, and Calim/Felicia heads to Guilden’s tower, taking losses from Dornith’s remaining forces. Guilden meets his army at the town’s entrance (is alerted of the approach) and gives up his life to obliterate Calim/Felicia and enough of the slaadi for the town’s guards to defeat.
If you think I wouldn't use an ending that is such a downer, you don't know me very well. Well, hope those who read the story enjoyed it. If you'd like to read more of my work, I've got other stories online for you to (hopefully) enjoy (stay away from 'Magi').
