“They are here, Frederick,” Mother said as she looked up. “They came to take us to the other side.”
I followed her eyes. Erik and Endre stood above me. Endre shook his head as he barely held tears back. Erik’s face was still stoic, but his eyes watered.
I swallowed my cowardice and clutched Mother’s hand. “No, Mother. You are alive and so are they. They never left us.”
Her dark eyebrows knitted and I held back a wince. Just when I thought she was going to scream at me for keeping the truth from her, she launched out of Father’s lap and flung herself into Endre’s waiting arms. She buried her face in his shoulder and her chest rattled with sobs.
“My boy!” Father cried as he crushed Erik to his chest.
A large hand appeared at my side. I took it as Riyan slowly helped me up.
Brietta’s speech continued over my parents’ joyous sobs. “No more shall brother turn against brother. No more shall the provinces fight with one another.”
Riyan nearly folded in half as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on mine. I took in a breath of nectar and wheat as I stroked his hair.
“Breathe, Riyan,” I whispered into his chest.
He let out a hollow chuckle. “Don’t need to do that anymore.”
I pressed my cheek against his heartbeat. “Then do it because it feels good.”
“Nothing feels good right now.”
I pulled away slightly, only so he could look me in the eyes. “It does not have to.” I sent a sweep of magic over his skin, cleaning the trails of crimson blood from his cheek and the splatter of black blood from his hands. “Feel the grief and the pain and the sorrow. Let yourself feel everything because I will feel it all with you.”
He kissed me on the forehead and the light of our bond sang, but his eyes drifted to the top of the southernmost tower. Derrick held both Annalisa and Astrid as they cried, their sobs barely audible amongst the triumphant celebration.
“What can we do?” Riyan said in a heavy sigh.
Brietta’s voice rose over the fortress walls. “We shall progress! We shall fix what is broken!”
I eyed Astrid. “I made a promise and I intend to keep it.”
“And tomorrow,” Brietta said, “the dawn shall break on a new, better, glorious Lycaster!”
Not even an hour after the golden sunrise spilled onto Bloodstone Fortress, Brietta dipped her quill into the inkwell.
The Barons all gathered in the dining hall to sign the new Lycaster charter Brietta had drafted. Soldiers in both red and blue uniforms lined the walls to bear witness. Some of Lycaster’s army, including Grigory Thornebow, had fled the moment I had released my power over them.
If I never saw Grigory again, it would be too soon.
Riyan and I stood on either side of Brietta as the Barons prepared to sign. We were her immortals, her shield and sword.
Baron Elvar was the first to sign the charter. He added his large signature with a flourish, but not before cutting Riyan an icy glare.
“I don’t trust him,” Riyan said through our bond.
I kept my eyes on Baron Elvar’s back as he walked away. “Me neither. He is not going to just let go of his Little Diamond being taken away.”
Baron Amberfield was next in line with the quill and the other Barons followed behind him. The Barons had agreed to grantevery woman in Lycaster equal rights and privileges in exchange for a full pardon for their treasonous sedition. Evereon had suggested at least cutting off a finger to serve as a reminder, but Brietta stressed that her rule was based on progress and healing. To prove that point, Brietta reinstated the Baronage of Ravenwood.
The golden Ravenwood pin gleamed on Father’s chest as he added his signature at the bottom of the charter. He gave Riyan an approving smile before returning to stand with Mother. Mother held both Erik’s and Endre’s hands, her smile rosy as a fresh blossom.
Only one more Baron needed to sign.
“I hope this works,” Riyan whispered through our bond.
Annalisa handed Magnus to Rosaline and she broke away from the crowd. The pack of Hyton sisters whispered to each other.
