His voice sounded alert, healthy, and Gwen had never felt so relieved. She broke into a huge smile, along with Illepra.
Gwen lunged forward and embraced him, giving him a big hug, then pulled back.
“You’re alive!” she exclaimed.
“Of course I am,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I be? Who is this?” he asked, turning towards Illepra.
“The woman who saved your life,” Gwen answered.
“Saved my life?”
Illepra looked down to the floor.
“I only helped a small bit,” she said, humbly.
“What happened to me?” he asked Gwen, frantic. “The last I remember, I was drinking in the tavern and then…”
“You were poisoned,” Illepra said. “A very rare and strong poison. I’ve not encountered it in years. You’re lucky to be alive. In fact, you’re the only one I’ve ever seen survive it. Someone must have been looking down on you.”
At her words, Gwen knew she was right, and immediately thought of her father. The sun streaked into the windows, stronger, and she felt her father’s presence with them. He had wanted Godfrey to live.
“It serves you right,” Gwen said with a smile. “You had promised to forsake ale. Now look at what happened.”
He turned and smiled at her; she saw the life back in his cheeks and felt flooded with relief. Godfrey was back.
“You saved my life,” he said to her, earnestly.
He turned to Illepra.
“Both of you did,” he added. “I don’t know how I shall ever repay you.”
As he looked at Illepra, Gwen noticed something – it was something in his look, something more than gratitude. She turned and looked at Illepra, and noticed her blushing, looking down to the floor – and Gwen realized they liked each other.
Illepra quickly turned and crossed the room, turning her back to them, busying herself with a potion.
Godfrey looked back to Gwen.
“Gareth?” he asked, suddenly solemn.
Gwen nodded back, understanding what he was asking.
“You’re lucky you’re not dead,” she said. “Firth is.”
“Firth?” Godfrey’s voice rose in surprise. “Dead? But how?”
“He hung him from the gallows,” she said. “You were supposed to be next.”
“And you?” Godfrey asked.
Gwen shrugged.
“He has plans to marry me off. He sold me to the Nevaruns. Apparently they’re on their way to take me.”
Godfrey sat up, outraged.
“I shall never allow it!” he exclaimed.
“Neither shall I,” she answered. “I will find a way.”
“But without Firth, we have no evidence,” he said. “We have no way to bring him down. Gareth will be free.”
“We will find a way,” she responded. “We will find – ”
Suddenly the cottage filled with light as the door opened and in marched Akorth and Fulton.
“My lady – ” Akorth began, then turned at the sight of Godfrey.
“You son of a bitch!” Akorth cried out in joy to Godfrey. “I knew it! You cheated just about everything in life – I knew you’d cheat death, too!”
“I knew no tankard of ale would take you to your grave!” Fulton added.
Akorth and Fulton ran over, and as Godfrey jumped up from bed, and they all embraced.
Then Akorth turned to Gwen, serious.
“My lady, I’m sorry to disturb you, but we spotted a contingent of soldiers on the horizon. They are rushing for us even now.”
Gwen looked at him with alarm, then ran outside, all of them on her heels, ducking her head, and squinting in the strong sunlight.
The group stood outside, and Gwen looked out at the horizon and watched a small group of Silver riding for the cottage. A half dozen men charged at full speed, and there was no doubt they were racing for them.
Godfrey reached down to draw his sword, but Gwen lay a reassuring hand on his wrist.
“These are not Gareth’s men – they are Kendrick’s. I am sure they come in peace.”
The soldiers reached them and, without pausing, dismounted from their horses and knelt before Gwendolyn.
“My lady,” the lead soldier said. “We bring you great news. We have pushed back the McClouds! Your brother Kendrick is safe, and he has asked me to send you a message: Thor is well.”
Gwen burst into tears at the news, overwhelmed with gratitude and relief, stepping forward and embracing Godfrey, who embraced her back. She felt as if her life had been restored within her.
“They shall all return today,” the messenger continued, “and there will be a great celebration in King’s Court!”
“Great news indeed!” Gwen exclaimed.
“My lady,” came another, deep voice, and Gwen looked over to see a lord, a renowned warrior, Srog, dressed in the distinctive red of the west, a man she had known since youth. He had been close to her father. He knelt before her, and she felt ashamed.
“Please, sir,” she said, “do not kneel before me.”
He was a famous man, a powerful lord who had thousands of soldiers answering to him, and who ruled his own city, Silesia, the stronghold of the West, an unusual city, built right into a cliff on the edge of the Canyon. It was nearly impenetrable. He was one of the few her father ever trusted.
“I have ridden here with these men because I hear that great changes are astir in King’s Court,” he said knowingly. “The throne is unsteady. A new ruler – a firm ruler, a true ruler – must be placed in his stead. Word has reached me of your father’s desire that you should reign. Your father was like a brother to me, and his word is my bond. If that is his wish, then it is mine. I have come to let you know that, if you should rule, then my men will swear allegiance to you. I would urge you to act soon. The events of today have proven that King’s Court needs a new ruler.”
Gwen stood there, taken aback, hardly knowing how to respond. She felt deeply humbled, and a sense of pride, but she also felt overwhelmed, in over her head.
“I thank you, sir,” she said. “I’m grateful for your words, and for your offer. I shall ponder it deeply. For now, I wish only to welcome home my brother – and Thor.”
Srog bowed his head, and a horn sounded on the horizon. Gwen looked up and could already see the dust cloud: a great army was appearing. She raised one hand to block out the sun, and her heart soared. Even from here, she could feel who it was. It was the Silver, the King’s men.
And riding at their head was Thor.
Chapter Eleven
Thor rode with the army, thousands of soldiers heading as one back towards King’s Court, and he felt triumphant. He still could hardly process what had happened. He was proud of what he had done, proud that when things seemed at their lowest point in battle, he had not given into his fear, but stayed and faced those warriors. And he was in shock that he had somehow survived.
The entire battle had felt surreal, and he was so grateful he’d been able to summon his powers – yet he was also confused, since his powers did not always work. He did not understand them, and worse, he did not know where they came from or how to muster then. It made him realize more than ever that he had to learn to rely on his human skills, too – on being the best fighter, the best warrior, he could be. He was starting to realize that to be the best warrior he could be, he needed both sides of himself – the fighter, and the sorcerer – if that’s even what he was.
They rode all night to get back to King’s Court, and Thor was now beyond exhausted, but also exhilarated. The first sun was breaking over the horizon, the vast expanse of sky opened before him in shades of yellows and pinks, and he felt as if he were seeing the world for the first time. He had never felt so alive. He was surrounded by his friends, Reece, O’Connor, Elden, and the twins; by Kendrick, Kolk, and Brom; and by hundreds of members of the Legion, The Silver, and of the King’s army. But instead of being on the outskirts of it, now he rode at the center, embraced by all of them. Indeed, they all looked at him differently since the battle. Now, he saw admiration in the eyes of not just his fellow Legion members, but also in the eyes of the real, full-grown warriors. He had faced the entire McCloud army by himself and turned back the tide of war.