Epilogue

A child ran through the long, brown grasses of the open field; he was barely three years old and knew he shouldn’t be this far out, but wanted one last run before winter set in and he would be forced to stay indoors. A lion cub ran a short distance before him, stopping every now and then for him to catch up to her. The villagers named her Aleda. He smiled as he watched her romp through the grass, the name fit her perfectly; it meant small and winged.

The villagers had said she was the Ruler of the World’s daughter, and called him lucky since she was always found at his side. But he knew the truth, they envied him because of it. Their hatred didn’t bother him nor did their avoidance of him. As long as Aleda was beside him, their hurtful words could never harm him.

He sighed and looked up into the darkening sky, a storm was coming. He could feel it, although he knew not how or why. Aleda confirmed his feeling when she came back to him. An image of dark clouds and lightning formed in his mind. He nodded and turned back in the direction he had run from.

Halfway back to the Seventh Kingdom, he stopped and blinked a couple times. A man was standing at the gates, he appeared to have just arrived. His smile was bright as he recognized the man. He was the heir of the Sixth Kingdom, the neighboring Kingdom to the west. It was not even fifty miles away.

“ Father!” He cried as he and Aleda ran up to the man. He knew he wasn’t his real father, he didn’t have an actual one, but he was the closest thing he had to one. He remembered him when he was born; he took care of him, kept him safe when his mother was nearly killed. In his eyes, this man would always be his father no matter what came to be in the future.

“ Jake, where have you been? Your mother has been worried sick about you.” Jacob bowed his head, sheepishly. “ Aleda and I wanted to run through the fields before winter. I’m sorry, Father. I won’t do it again.” “ I’m not the one you need apologize to. Hurry inside and let your mother know you’re safe, while I stable my horse.” Jacob nodded and ran into the courtyard.

He smiled as they ran past Smoke, the stallion had several bags still strapped to his saddle. ‘If Father has brought so much, than he’s going to be staying awhile. Maybe he and Mother will marry, instead of acting as if they don’t care for each other.’ He told Aleda as they slowed. Her left ear flicked back, it meant maybe.

Worry filled Jacob as he entered the castle’s doors. He stopped in the doorway and turned back to stare out past the gates at the world beyond the Kingdom. His fingers curled in Aleda’s ruff from dread. The coming storm would not be caused by the weather.