Epilogue

Talin ran up the steps to the balcony of his and Io’s room. He had seen the messenger come up to the palace walls as he returned with Arion and Othello from his trip to visit Eahen.

It had been seven years since the defeat of Warc, and Everlindé and was finally beginning to get used to being free. For the first five years, Talin and Eahen had ridden out to defeat the small Goblin and Níath armies that formed, trying to take control again.

Every time they faced the Níath, Talin would always watch his friend carefully, for who knew what could be going through his head since he had been tainted with a Níath blade. But Eahen never showed anything different then when he fought the Goblins.

During the past two years, however, Talin had grown increasingly worried about his friend. Eahen had become very suspicious of certain people, including his brother, Lucanio.

When Eahen had tried voicing these thoughts to Talin, he had received what the Elf thought to be proper advice and support. But Eahen had finally cracked and publicly accused Lucanio and several others of working for the Níath.

Lucanio had, apparently, taken pity on his brother and exclaimed painfully that the wound that would forever be in Eahen’s breast was affecting him more then he had known or assumed, and Eahen had been confined.

Io was standing at the edge of the railed balcony. Her belly was huge, she was in the last stages of pregnancy. Talin smiled; glad he had not missed the baby being born.

“Io, did you get a message?” he asked as he walked up to her, a sword clinking at his heels.

She didn’t answer, just held the paper in her limp hand.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, pulling her to him and taking the paper gently from her hand. He looked down and read out loud.

Dear Prince Talin and Lady Io

It is with my deepest regrets that I tell you that later in the night after you left Talin, my dear and beloved brother passed away due to complications from his illness. I am very sorry to have to relay this to you, as you were very close friends and companions. There will be prayers said for his soul to find its way to Atlë and the burying will happen three weeks from this day, it would be greatly appreciated if you could make it if it were possible.

Lucanio

Talin looked up at Io and Berowyne, the wet nurse, who had just come out of the nursery room where Talin’s daughter Rome was lying asleep, barely eighteen months old.

“I was just there,” Talin whispered in disbelief.

“I’m very sorry to hear the news, sir,” Berowyne said. “Is there anything I can do?”

“I don’t think so,” Talin replied. “Thank you.”

Berowyne nodded and returned to the nursery.

“How do you think Caërwen took it?” Io asked, quietly.

Talin smiled, slightly, “she’ll have the whole place in an uproar, as usual.”

Caërwen was a fiery young Sprite they had met only six years before. She had been visiting the Nymph court as an ambassador from Lirope and she had seen Eahen when no one else had. She got to know him, and she defended him when Eahen didn’t seem to have a voice. Talin liked her a lot, she had lots of spirit, but it was only recently that she and Eahen had fallen in love. It must have been a hard blow to her.

“Talin, the baby will come soon,” Io said. “We should go to Mallanor right after that.”

“And leave them here?” Talin asked, looking into her eyes.

“There is something deeper behind all of this. You said you were just there,” Io explained. “How was he, did he seem worse?”

“He only seemed frustrated to me. He was glad, as glad as I was to see him again, but he seemed frustrated when the subject of Lucanio and the others came up. He didn’t seem disturbed at all,” Talin replied.

“Then how could he just die from complications of something he didn’t have?” Io asked.

“What do you suppose he died from then?” Talin questioned.

“Something is eluding us. Why did the messenger get here before you did?” Io ignored his question.

“We stayed an extra night with your grandma?” Talin suggested.

“True, but Lucanio would not have written the message that night, nor the next day. It would have been written when you were leaving Grandma’s, so why didn’t they pass you?” Io asked.

Talin shook his head. “Any reason? Different route?” Talin suggested.

“Do you really believe that?”

Talin hesitated, then shook his head again. Io was right, as usual, but he didn’t want her to worry right now.

“When the baby has come, then we’ll go to Mallanor,” Io said again.

There were footsteps behind them before Talin could respond. He turned and with a somewhat shocked smile, he saw Artemis walking up the balcony stairs, escorted by Arion. They had not seen Artemis since they had parted in forest near Ladon seven years before. She had not changed in the slightest.

“Artemis!” Io greeted in surprise “I’m not sure I expected to see you again.”

“I doubt it,” Artemis said with a smile.

“It’s great to see you,” replied Io. “Either way, how are the toadstools?”

“They are doing well. The Centaurs don’t bother us anymore,” Artemis said.

“What have you done to them?” Talin asked, with a smile.

“Nothing really,” Artemis answered.

“We’re going to leave it at that because I don’t want to know,” Io smiled.

“No, I’m sure you don’t,” Artemis said. “But I haven’t really come here for just a visit.”

“What have you come for then?” Io asked.

“To say proper farewells and spend the little time I have left in Everlindé with the people I care about most,” Artemis replied.

“Didn’t we do that at Ladon?” Talin teased.

“True, we said good-bye, but that was different, there was always the chance that we would see each other again, but now I must move on,” Artemis said.

“Where are you going?” Talin asked.

“I am taking the Toadstools to the harbour at Delos. Alnel is accompanying me to Cabiri,” Artemis explained.

“You have passage?” Io asked.

“I always have,” Artemis replied. “But now it is time for me to go. Things are changing; I cannot stay for I will mostly likely be left behind. My time has passed.”

“How long will you be staying with us here?” Talin asked.

“As soon as Lana and Bale come, for they too are coming here to see you. And when the babes arrive, you four will leave for Mallanor on another adventure, and I will leave for mine.”