There was a hitch in her breath before the tears
came, attracting the attention of her friends and one enemy.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered to Faen before placing a
delicate kiss to his lips. “You will hold my heart always.” She
wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest, the
emptiness of it without a heartbeat tearing her own heart in two.
Tears ran down her cheeks and soaked into his tunic.
Jocelyn, who was standing next to Etyran, leaned into
the Lightbender. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin
on the top of her head as she sobbed into his chest, her own tears
for her brother flowing freely now. Etyran cast his sad gaze over
to Alyssa who was still holding tight to Vivianna. An expression of
commiseration shrouding his new friend's features.
Todmus cleared his throat. He leaned over and placed
his hand on Faedra's shoulder. She opened her eyes, sensing the
hope in the little man's energy. “What is it, Todmus?” She pushed
herself up into a kneeling position; her eyes level with the
dwarf's.
“I believe you have the power to save Mr. Faen.”
Faedra gave him a weak smile. “Todmus, he's already
gone. Unless Savu has the power to breathe life into the dead then
I'm afraid there's nothing we can do.” Her voice cracked with her
words.
Todmus smiled. “If what I have read is correct, miss,
Savu did have the power to give life. It's just that he always
found it more amusing to take it away.”
Faedra held Todmus by the shoulders and searched his
eyes. “How, Todmus? Do you know how?”
“Well, miss, as far as I've read in the texts, dark
energy takes life. So, it would stand to reason that light energy
should give it.”
Faedra stared at the dwarf for a long moment. Energy
she understood. She was, after all, an energy manipulator, but
she'd not yet had to differentiate her energy between light and
dark. It was easy enough to equate dark energy with bad stuff and
light energy with good, but when it came to bringing someone back
from the dead, that was something altogether outside of her realm
of comprehension.
She gave Todmus a weak smile and turned back to her
Guardian. Where did she even begin? Her eyes closed on a heavy sigh
and she laid her palms to Faen's chest. It was dark behind her
eyelids; she was hoping when she closed them something in her mind
would present her with a solution. She took a calming breath and
relaxed, giving herself up to Savu's power as she had done moments
earlier in the castle. Only this time, she wasn't seeking to
destroy, but to create. Her power seemed to know what to do back
then, maybe it would in this situation, also.
A moment ticked by but still she was secluded in her
own darkness. Just as she was about to open her eyes in defeat, she
saw something. A pin prick of light in the distance, coming from
the darkest recesses of her mind. Gradually, it got closer and
closer, lighting up the darkness as it approached. When it reached
her, the force of it took her by surprise. She could feel the
warmth of it flowing all around her, reaching out to the man she
loved, also. It felt like they were being wrapped in her favorite
soft blanket. A love and light so powerful it flowed through every
vein, chased away every shadow, and took her breath away. If this
was what light energy felt like, she never wanted to experience
dark energy again for as long as she lived. Then she felt something
under her fingertips, a heartbeat. Then another… and another.
Faedra opened her eyes. For a split second, she
looked down at herself and was taken aback to see that she was
glowing; not just her eyes this time, but her whole body was
glowing a beautiful soft white. Where her hands touched Faen, the
light radiated out across his chest and drenched his whole body in
the same ethereal light.
She studied Faen's face. It was calm, sleeping.
Faedra brought a hand to her mouth when she saw Faen's lips part
just a fraction as he took a breath, then another. Tears pricked
her eyes, eyes that were drawn upwards for a second by the sound of
soft gasps all around her. Her friends were standing in a circle
around them, looking down in astonishment at the miracle taking
place under her hands.
Jocelyn's tears still flowed, but Faedra could sense
they were tears of happiness this time. Faedra returned her gaze to
the man who still lay unmoving on the ground.
“Come on, Faen,” Faedra whispered. “Come back to me.”
She let her fingertips trail down the side of his face, leaving
wisps of light in their wake.
Faen's eyes moved under their lids. Slowly they
opened. He blinked a few times before focusing on the one who had
brought him back.
“You're alive!” Faedra cried.
“You're glowing,” Faen said in a hoarse whisper.
Faedra choked on a laugh, her face lighting up with
joy, making her glow even brighter. “I know. Isn't it
incredible?”
Faedra flung her arms around her Guardian as he
pushed himself up to sit. “Oh, Faen. I'm so sorry,” she sobbed. “I
should have told you what I was planning. My stupid plan nearly got
you killed. Actually, it did get you killed. Oh, God. I'm so
sorry.”
Faen took hold of Faedra's shoulders and pushed her
back until he could look into her eyes. She turned her head, too
ashamed to look him in the eye. He coaxed her face towards him with
his fingers.
“Look at me,” Faen whispered.
Faedra did as he asked and raised her tear-soaked
eyes to meet his soft gaze. The light around them now was
dissipating like the sun burning through a morning mist.
Faen did a quick glance around at the people
encircling them, smiling as he did an inventory of bodies. “It
looks to me like you got everyone out of there alive. I would call
your plan a success.”
“I nearly lost you.”
“But you brought me back,” he said with a smile. “And
discovered that Savu's powers can be used for good instead of
bad.”
Faedra threw her arms around him again and buried her
head in his neck. Faen reciprocated, wrapping his arms around his
Custodian; he held her tight. Unfortunately, the moment didn't last
long.
“Whoa, what's going on?” The startled cry from Alyssa
had everyone turning their attention towards her and Vivianna. The
body Vivianna was occupying now lay motionless on the floor in
front of the young Lightbender. Alyssa held her hands up to the
onlookers, most of whom were scrunching there eyebrows in
question.
“I swear I didn't do anything. She just went limp and
I wasn't expecting it, so I couldn't keep hold of her before she
hit the ground.” Alyssa explained.
There was another thud. Everyone's attention turned
back to see Allora had also collapsed beside Todmus. Faen and
Faedra released each other and looked from one unconscious form to
the other.
Todmus leaned over the body Allora was occupying and
gave it a cursory once over before standing up and shooting a
knowing smile at the group. “I suggest someone take hold of this
one before she wakes,” he said, looking at Etyran with an air of
expectation.
“Todmus, what is happening?” Faedra asked.
“Arawn's life energy just expired.”
Faedra answered his reply with a bemused
expression.
“When a sorcerer's life energy expires, so, too, does
his magic. Vivianna and Allora will awake in their own bodies.”
Faedra smiled.
“You killed Arawn?” Faen asked.
The circle of friends, who had been standing over the
pair, effectively blocking Faen's view of the castle, parted to
either side.
Faen's eyes grew wide when they fell on the pile of
rubble that occupied the space that was once a castle.
“Oh, my! You were busy.”
Faedra smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Let's
just say I got a little angry when he killed my boyfriend.” Then
she turned back to Todmus, and with a sheepish grin said, “Sorry, I
wrecked your house, Todmus.”
Todmus gave a dismissive wave. “With a power like
yours, miss, I dare say you will help us rebuild it.”
Faedra's grin widened.
There was a groan from the body on the floor, which
procured a quick response from Etyran. He leaned down and grabbed
Vivianna's hands, holding them behind her back before she had a
chance to fully awaken. A moment later he was hauling her off the
floor to stand in front of him. She looked behind her and gave him
a glare of pure malice.
“Unhand me you wretched oaf,” she spat.
“That's not what you said last time we were
together,” Etyran said with twinkle in his eye. “As I recall,
unhanding you was the last thing on your mind.”
Vivianna gasped. “How dare you?”
“Oh, I dare, Princess. Just try me.” Etyran glared
back at her and tightened the grip around her wrists. “In fact, I
dare to throw you in a dungeon where no one will ever lay eyes on
you again.”
Vivianna looked affronted but said no more.
Another groan a few steps away garnered a different
response from the group.
“Todmus?” A small voice murmured.
Todmus ran over to his wife and helped her off the
ground. “Allora, my love,” he said, cupping her face in his hands.
“I have my beautiful wife back.” He pulled back from her slightly,
soaking in her features before throwing his arms around her and
hugging her to within an inch of her life.
Skylar stood behind her daddy and peeked out from
behind his trouser leg. “Mama, is it really you this time?” she
asked.
Allora let go of her husband and scooped her daughter
from the ground and swung her around.
“Yes, darling. It is really me.”
Todmus put his arms around his wife and child and
turned and addressed the group. “Thank you. Because of you, I have
my family back, and my home.”
“So, I guess that means you won't be coming back to
Azran?” Faedra asked.
“No, I'm afraid not. This is my home, my kingdom. My
people need me; we have a lot of rebuilding to do.”
Faedra addressed the rest of the group. “I guess that
means we're stuck with Mr. Grumpy Britches as our ‘people
greeter’.”
Jocelyn, Etyran and Alyssa wrinkled their brows.
“Oh, that's right. You haven't had that pleasure,
yet.” Faedra looked up at Faen and grinned. “They are in for such a
treat, aren't they?”
Faen shook his head and laughed.
“Well, evil half-sister of mine, let's get you back
to your nice cozy dungeon, shall we? And no mirrors this time.”
Vivianna scowled.
Faedra pulled the cypher wheel from its pouch and
handed it to Todmus. “Do you know a more direct route to Azran? I
really don't think the guide at Dragon Hall could handle any more
people materializing from his treasure chest.”
Todmus smiled and took the device from the Custodian.
He busied himself with the dials on the wheel before handing it
back to Faedra.
She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks,
Todmus. We'll be back to visit soon. I owe you a castle.”
Todmus lay his palm on her cheek. “You will always be
welcome in Drofoz, miss.”
Faedra stood and joined her group of friends. “Okay,
everyone ready?” She felt several hands grab onto her clothing.
“Let's go home then, shall we? I have a wedding to plan.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It takes a lot of people to bring a book to
life and mine is no different. With that in mind I am going to
mention each and every one of the wonderfully supportive network of
people who helped me. So, if you are sitting comfortably, I shall
begin.
The inspiration for this book came from Frank
Phelps, creator of the real Cypher Wheel. Find out more about it at
www.cypherwheel.com
My wonderful beta-readers (in alpha order).
Alyssa, Andi, Carina, David, and Jos. Your feedback and ideas
helped me mold and shape the story into what it is today.
Marisa Wagner, my awesome editor. Your
attention to detail is amazing. You took my words and made them
sing.
The following people who took me on private
tours when researching this book: Joan Smith and Maureen Eastman at
The Great Hospital, Norwich, England. Jo Archer from Norwich
Heritage who showed me around The Guildhall, Norwich. Richard
Matthew – tour guide at Dragon Hall, Norwich.
And last, but by no means least, my soul
mate. Your never ending love and support knows no bounds. I love
you.
Thank you to you all.
In Memory
Gypsy
1989-2012
About the Author
Alison Pensy was born and raised in England.
She grew up near a medieval city, which is where much of the
inspiration for her books comes from. Moving to the States in 2001,
she eventually settled near a small town in mid Missouri with her
menagerie of animals.
Alison also runs her own tax and accounting
business and started writing when she became so fed up with the
real world, she decided to create her own.
Please visit her website at
www.alisonpensy.com
.
She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to leave comments
or ask questions.