Light of Epertase 01: Legends Reborn (48 page)

Rasi plopped onto his rear like an incredible weight had been lifted. He let loose tears that flowed like the waterfalls by his home on Shadows Peak. He didn’t try to stop them.

Only the gods knew how much time passed before Rasi regained control of his emotions. He didn’t know and didn’t care. He ground his palms against his eyes until the wet blur was gone.

I’m going home to Puimia to see my parents and I won’t be returning. I need to tell you something before I go, something very difficult for me. I have thought about both of you every day since the day you died and have mourned you greatly. But it is time for me to move on, to live again. I needed to tell you goodbye and that is why I’m here. If there are gods above, I will see you both again one day and I long for that meeting.

He sat in silence while the suns streaked across the sky. Finally, when he gathered enough strength, he pushed to his feet.

He set the roses at the head of the grave and then lightly kissed the wooden plaque. As he started to walk away, he paused and turned back to the tree.
I love you both and always will.

Rasi turned away and looked to the openness. The world before him was somehow brighter, offering a new life and a new sense of hope. He mounted his newest gift from the royal house, a black beauty of a stallion worthy of a king. The likeness to his old friend Salient was uncanny and he took a moment to remember him.

He smiled, turned his steed eastward, and headed home.

T
HE
E
ND

B
IOGRAPHY

Douglas R. Brown is a fantasy writer who lives in Pataskala, Ohio. He began writing more than five years ago as a cathartic way of dealing with the day-to-day stresses of life as a firefighter/paramedic for the Columbus Ohio Division of Fire. Now he focuses his writing on fantasy, where he draws on his lifelong love of the genre. He has been married for 14 years and has a son and two dogs.

Douglas’ Web site is
www.epertase.com
.

T
HE
L
IGHT OF
E
PERTASE

L
EGENDS
R
EBORN
B
OOK
O
NE

(A
VAILABLE
N
OW
)

A K
INGDOM’S
F
ALL
, B
OOK
T
WO

(F
ALL
2012)

T
HE
R
ISE OF
C
RIDON
, B
OOK
3

(F
ALL
2013)