He motioned to a servant coming up the path, holding the reins of a stallion. It had a beautiful white coat with eyes the color of a clear sky. Rawn stared at the horse, for it was an exact mirror of another they once knew.
“This is Sight,” Raiden told him. “The last offspring of Fair. He was meant for me, but our bond never took place. I believe he was waiting for you.”
So many emotions crossed Rawn’s face, and they walked together toward the horse. He stroked Sight’s muzzle, murmuring in soft Elvish. With a soft nicker, the stallion bumped Rawn’s shoulder in the same manner Fair used to do.
Dyna squeezed Lucenna’s hand, fighting the emotion swelling in her throat.
“The loss of a bonded horse is as painful, if not more, than the loss of family,” Aerina said beside them. “They give their entire lives to loving us, and we spend the rest of ours missing them.”
And she would. Dyna carried Fair’s loss the same way she mourned losing a friend.
Lev sheli?At Cassiel’s call in the bond, she went to him, and he gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.Fair now grazes in peaceful fields in the Heavens. His spirit rests.
The image made her eyes well up.I know.
Eldred approached them with items in his hands. “The Accords,” he said, passing Cassiel a scroll sealed with green wax embossed with the sigil of Greenwood. “It is signed and free of any instigations. Greenwood stands with Hilos. As our thank you for your great aid, King Leif grants you gemstones from his coffers.” Eldred handed Dyna a velvet pouch in the same color, and something shifted inside. Opening it, she found small shards. Crystals. A handful of both Tanzanite and Moonstones. “There are Elder Trees across Urn in the unlikeliest of places. The closest one is a few miles north of the Anduir Mountains. Rawn knows where.”
They both gave the Magi Master their thanks before he moved on to speak to Lucenna. Eldred had spent the spring training them on how to activate the Elder Trees.
They now had the means to travel more efficiently.
Yelrakel and the Valkyrie came forward and bowed, accepting their next mission. Dyna and Cassiel agreed it was best to send them to Skath to overlook the rebuilding of the Realm. Where they would be near when it was time to confront Raziel.
“My lady,” Raiden approached her. He held out the reins of a graceful Elvish mare with a golden coat. “I have a horse for you as well. Her name is Solaya.”
Dyna gasped softly and stroked her silky mane. “Oh my, she is magnificent, Raiden. But I don’t know if I…”
“I will beg you to allow me this. Solaya is also unbonded, but I think you both are kindred spirits.” Raiden’s smile turned to a cool frown as he met Cassiel’s gaze past her shoulder. “I will only surrender Dynalya to you this once, Soaraway. Break her heart again, and I will take her away from you for good.”
Dyna tensed, but Cassiel only smirked. “Surrender? You never had her, Norrlen.”
Smirking back, Raiden returned to his family. Well, that may be as close of a truce between them as there could be.
Once all goodbyes were said, Dyna nodded to her Guardians that it was time.
Zev shifted into his wolf, and Keena took her place on his head. Von mounted Coal, Lucenna and Klyde rode on Onyx, and Tavin climbed onto his own mount.
Lady Aerina held her son’s hand as she gazed upon her husband. Her watered eyes went to them pleadingly. “Bring him home to me.”
Each gave their word.
Then they rode across the valley for the next part of their journey.
“So Raiden can freely bask you with gifts, but I am limited?” Cassiel asked when they reached the foothills of the Anduir Mountains.
Dyna patted his arm securely wrapped around her waist. “Are you vexed that he threatened to steal me away if you broke my heart again?”
He huffed indignantly under his breath, making her smile. His possessive growl passed through her mind.That will never happen again, lev sheli.
Breaking my heart or stealing me away?
Both.
And that promise settled on the bond with all the others.
Their group reached a familiar ridge secluded within a cluster of rowan shrubs that overlooked the province of Sellav. Rawn paused there as he gazed at his home. Perhaps to memorize it until he saw it again.
Their hike up the Anduir Mountains took two days.
