Again, Kieri pulled on Bree’s cloak. “Briana.”
Bree swiped the child’s hand away as the tears that even Horland’s touch could no longer contain fell from her eyes and mixed with the rain from above.
Horland placed his hands on Bree’s shoulders. “I am sorry for your loss. He was a good man.”
Wiping away the wet from her face, Bree frowned. “I thought you didn’t like him.”
“I loved him as a brother, but when I thought he had done Patricia an injury, my anger eclipsed all feelings.”
“You believe he didn’t hurt Mom now?”
He smiled. “In what I thought was my final moments among the living, I thought on what you’d said, and for some reason, it all made sense. You, Garlain, Patricia, Mark, and Dianne.
“Sometimes, I wondered about the king and the princesses but never had cause to question anything too much. Not until you showed up. Many things make sense now.” He drew in a quick breath. “I believe you, and I am sorry I cannot ask for Garlain’s forgiveness.”
Bree gave the river one last look and whispered, “Goodbye, Father, I hope you find Mom and can be happy together for all time.”
He wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck. “You believe me,” she said.
In answer, he tightened his arms around her. “I do.”
Kieri whined. “Briana.”
Horland was the first to break the hug. “What is it, child?”
Kieri pointed toward the ruins.
Bree started and blinked, staring at what she thought must have been an apparition.Dad?
“Garlain,” Horland croaked.
His voice seeped into Bree’s brain. She glanced at him. “You can see him too?”
“Yes.”
Bree ran up the stairs, coming to a stop before Garlain. “Dad?”
“It is I, daughter.” He hugged her to him. “It is I.”
Bree opened her eyes and gazed over her father’s shoulder. Morla was standing there smiling.
Garlain let Bree go. “Morla saved me.”
Horland joined them. “How?”
“You knew he was alive?” Angry heat filled Bree’s face. “All this time? And you let me think he was dead?”
“I could not take the time to explain.”
“Well now you can. Why didn’t you use your magic to help me or Horland then?”
“I didn’t use magic.”
Garlain laughed. “Morla is as magic as you and I.” He tipped his head to the side and smiled at Bree. “At leastwehave no magic.” He shook his head. “No. She risked her life to dive into the river and tear away a section of the hold with her bare hands.”
“Don’t be silly, Garlain. I used an axe and the fire poker to leverage away the boards.” She looked at Bree. “Although I did use my powers to find where they were keeping your father. I am a seer, after all.”
Garlain chuckled at that. “Aye.”
