The Forgotten (20 page)

Ryn turned his attention to her, and his eyes widened. “Damn it, Neri, you’re gushing blood,” Ryn muttered.

Mother Spratt looked at the wound and her eyes widened with worry. “You need help, Neri. Looks like you need to fall back to the Tavern.”

“I can’t leave. Lucan needs me.”

“He doesn’t need you that much. Off with you now,” Mother Spratt said, gesturing to her. She used her spritely magic and transported Neri back to the Tavern.

Neri opened her eyes and was met with an organized sort of chaos. Nell was intercepting both Ryn’s brother and Grifon and doing it quite well.

“We need to go to the castle, and stop the invaders before they get to the village,” Ava said. “Neri,” Ava cried out, finally noticing her. “Come on over here and let me heal you up before you bleed out that must be a deep wound.”

Rhiannon rushed toward her and enveloped her in a tight hug. “You’ll get my blood all over you,” Neri said, hugging her back.

“I don’t care, it will wash out,” Rhiannon said, her eyes so like Ryn’s filled with love. With a supportive arm around her, Rhiannon walked slowly with her toward Ava.

“Neri, it’s good to see you again,” Ryn’s brother, King Aedan settled his dark gaze on her. She suddenly felt so much younger—and so much more vulnerable.

“Your Majesty,” she said, inclining her head to him.

“You don’t have to be so formal,” he said, as Ava gently moved aside her hunter’s cloak and administered her healing magic. Instantly, the pain receded and she felt stronger.

“You might not be as strong as you usually are so don’t strain. For now, you’ll be fine, but I want you to rest up once the battle is over, and I don’t think you’re ready for combat again.”

“I’m going back to the castle, Lucan needs me.”

“Who is this Lucan,” Aedan asked, looking between all of them.

“He is the man that Neri thinks she loves,” Ryn said, as he materialized next to Rhiannon. Rhiannon’s eyes nearly fell out of her head as they finally came face to face.

“You are, you are…”

“That’s right, I am your father,” Ryn said, finishing what Rhiannon couldn’t quite bring herself to say.

“That’s a shame. I was hoping to bring you back to Avonry with me as my new wife and High Queen,” Aedan said, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

“You can keep your grubby hands to yourself, brother mine,” Ryn said, his possessiveness rearing its ugly head again.

“I only thought it fitting, given that Rhiannon is my heir,” Aedan said. “You needn’t set your knickers on fire, Ryn. Even in death, you still have an issue with anyone else desiring Neri.”

“Can we not talk about that right now? It seems to me with black mist billowing around the castle that we have other more important issues to consider. Specifically, the demon forces up there gaining a foothold on Shardizar.” Rhiannon’s voice was strong and determined and Neri had never been prouder.

“Rhiannon is right,” Ava said. “We need to mobilize our forces and take that castle.”

“They have a portal opened to the dimension of Herne. We have to shut that portal,” Neri said.

“Well, who wants to draw straws,” Aedan said sarcastically.

“I don’t follow,” Ava said.

“Someone has to get the short end of the stick, Princess,” Aedan said. 

Grifon groaned. “He’s right. Princess Alby died as a hero closing the last portal that was opened to the demon world of Herne.”

“No, her sacrifice was the thing that called upon the Goddess Rhiannon to come and help Shardizar drive back the darkness.”

“Sometimes, legends take on a life of their own,” Grifon mused. “The truth of the legend is this—Rhiannon had already come to Shardizar upon the portal opening. She knew we would not be able to take on the demonic soldiers alone. When it came time to close the portal, Princess Alby sacrificed herself to save her Kingdom, and in doing so, died a legend and forever became remembered as Saint Alby. I am her descendant. Trust me, I know the real story.”

Neri swallowed heavily against the awful truth. “We are all agreed that my Rhiannon isn’t going to be that person.”

“Mother,” Rhiannon muttered, her cheeks going red with her embarrassment.

“We are agreed,” Ava murmured. “None as young as she should even be considered.”

“Not to mention the fact that she’s my heir. I don’t want anything to happen to her, either,” Aedan said.

Neri didn’t like his reasoning behind keeping Rhiannon safe but she didn’t really care, she just didn’t want her daughter facing such a dangerous darkness. 

The ungodly chanting of the demon soldiers up at the castle finally carried their way. Neri shut her eyes against the horrendous sound. “Trust me, Rhiannon, you don’t want to be up there. I commend those who are knowingly going into battle against those monsters.”

“Speaking of which, I’ll go and tell my warriors that they are to work with your Knight Mages, Prince Grifon. We are allies in this battle.”

“Thank you, King Aedan.”

Aedan bowed his head to Grifon in respect, and then cast her one longing glance. Neri looked away. She couldn’t continue looking at the man who reminded her so keenly of Ryn. Even though Ryn was here by the Graces of the Gods and Goddesses she could not spend the rest of her life with him—and she wasn’t certain if she was worthy of Lucan’s love and loyalty when she had such dark desires in her heart.

“My brother’s troops will turn the tide of this battle. They are worthy of your respect, Prince Grifon.”

Grifon nodded his head. “Thank you, Prince Ryn. I think I should go and be with our warriors as well. I look forward to spilling the blood of our enemy.”

“Mine has already been spilled,” Neri said, wincing. She felt ashamed to know that her huntress blood was so weak. She should have given them a better fight.

“You were courageous to face such an enemy, Neri. Be proud of yourself,” Ava said, her eyes shining with warmth.

This was why so many across Shardizar would give their allegiance to Grifon and Ava. This is why so many would follow them toward whatever kind of hell came their way. This is why Grifon and Ava would make such a good King and Queen, and she knew that once Rhiannon ascended the throne of Avonry, they would be wise counsels for her should she ever need their assistance.

From this day forward, Avonry and Shardizar would be true allies, and their bond would continue to flourish during their reigns.

No matter what happened in the future, Rhiannon would be fine. That comforted her as they looked at their darkest hour.

“I need to go and be with Lucan,” she said, a slight ache still reverberating in her side where she’d been slashed.

“There are other healers to do what I can do here at the Tavern, I’m going up there with Grifon. I shan’t leave him to face the demons from Herne alone,” Ava declared. Neri wanted to tell her that they would need her fighting skills. Ava was a warrior to be reckoned with—unlike Neri she had truly inherited the Hunter talents.

Grifon looked like he wanted to argue but knew he would get nowhere fast with Ava. “I still don’t want you to take the chance of coming with us into battle if you’re insistent, then you’ll stay with us, Neri.”

“If it’s as bad as they say up there,” Rhiannon started, “don’t go. I’ve seen the warriors that Uncle Aedan and Prince Grifon brought. They don’t need you.”

She smiled at Rhiannon. “They might not need me,” she murmured, “but Lucan does. If I don’t at least try to help him, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“I agree with our daughter,” Ryn said. “I don’t want you going back up there. You can’t fight like Princess Ava. I hate to break that awful truth to you, sweet one, but you are not the warrior that even our daughter is.”

She swallowed thickly, and took the goblet of water that Nell wordlessly handed her.

“I might not be the best, or possibly even the bravest. Nonetheless, I am determined. I will go back up with Ava and Grifon and show Lucan that I will stand by him.”

Pain flashed across Ryn’s face. She could see that every time she spoke of Lucan she drove the dagger in deeper. Despite all of that, Ryn had to rise above it all. He was no longer prone to the perils of a mortal body. He had to have an enlightened state of mind now that he had an enlightened state of body.

“Then, I go where you go,” Ryn said.

Pulling Rhiannon in for another hug, she held her close and savoured the moment. “I will always love you, darling daughter. Remember that,” she said, kissing her and pulling away.

Rhiannon clung to her and pulled her back. “I don’t like the tone of your voice, Mama. You sound like you’re going to your end.”

“No matter what happens, this will not be our last meeting,” she said, caressing Rhiannon’s hair.

“I don’t want to stay here, my talents could be utilized best up there with the rest of the fighters,” Rhiannon said.

“No, you stay here,” Ryn said, authority thick in his voice.

“Your father is right. You remain here with the rest and help with the wounded. And if any of the demon soldiers find their way down here you will be able to help Nell and the rest of the healers. Think of yourself as the last line of the defense, the last one to protect this village. This is your home, Rhiannon. I know I can trust you to make sure it doesn’t burn.”

“I will stay only because as you, Mama, say the village needs me.”

She smiled, kissed her daughter’s forehead one last time, reached for her weapons and with Ava and Grifon by her side, and Ryn walking ahead of them, they ventured into their uncertain future.

She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach and had managed to navigate around Rhiannon picking up on it. She didn’t know if she would survive the coming battle—but if she didn’t, she would make sure that Rhiannon had a life without her—she would have a future worth living.

Lucan stared at his father. “Why do you allow Ulwyn to keep you trapped like this? You need to snap out of whatever sort of guilt keeps you chained here to this plane of existence and join the fight. There is another spirit here who has come to take you home, you deserve to travel to the Heavenly Otherworld. As much as I hate to admit it, since you were a foul bastard to my mother and me, you have done good deeds in your life, deeds that will counter any of your sins. When I look at true evil this day, your sins pale in comparison. Have your happiness in the Afterlife, Father. I forgive you.” His heart swelled as genuine emotion threatened to cripple Lucan.

For the first time in his life, he truly saw his father for what he was, a man who had made many mistakes but despite all of that he was still his father.

The crushing guilt shadowing his father’s wrinkled and grey visage crumbled. Light swept across his haggardly spirit and enveloped him in its healing power. When the light dimmed, he was looking at the vibrant, hearty and hale man he’d recalled as being his father.

Brandyn Whittier’s striking resemblance to Lucan struck him hard. He swallowed against the large lump that had formed in his throat. As they sometimes said, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. He was his father’s mirror image.

As his father’s guilt had been washed away, so too, had the supernatural chains that Ulwyn had shackled Brandyn with.

Instead of chains, he wore the same armour that Algernon wore and he sported wicked looking weapons that would see him through the battle.

“Son,” Brandyn said, reaching to grasp Lucan’s hand in a firm handshake. “I’ve waited for so long to hear you say those blessed words. I only ever wanted your forgiveness once I realized that I had lost my chance to be your father. Algernon filled that void, and how I wished I had chosen differently. We both picked different paths and yet—yet, we arrived at the same destination. You have what was always supposed to be your birthright. As my eldest child, you will get all that I have left to give in the mortal world. And with that inheritance comes a great power—a power the likes of which you probably never imagined existed.

Our ancestor, the first Baron, was an extremely powerful Knight Mage. Like you, he possessed the same raw magical talent, and took years harnessing its power. He imbued this castle with that power and enchanted it so that his blood heirs would always have a safe haven here. You are his last surviving direct blood heir. You now control that power that is hidden within these walls.

You can use it to rid us of the demons that have spawned from the Hellish Dimension of Herne. It will not close the portal, but it will kill all those who have invaded its walls. This castle wasn’t revered and feared for centuries for nothing. It’s always been a sanctuary, let it be so once more. Claim the castle as yours, say you are Lord Wythley the last of the Whittier line and that you order all of the demon soldiers from Herne to die, for this is a safe haven for the subjects of Shardizar and its allies. After that we just have to figure out how to close the damn portal.”    

“I don’t know if I can command such power.”

Mother Spratt had fought her way over to Lucan and kept the enemy from reaching him while he stood talking to his father. She was a warrior to be reckoned with—indeed, she would have made a glorious Templar Mage!

“You can. You must. If you wish to save your lady love.” He motioned to where Neri stood back in the thick of the battle.

Their eyes met for one glorious moment before she was surrounded by a raging cluster of hell demons.

Ryn, Grifon and Ava stood with her, fighting against the impossible odds for as they continued to kill the legions of demon soldiers more were spawned from the hellish portal. His father was right—he had to end it now. He had no other choice.

“Castle Wythley heed my wishes. I am Lord Wythley, last of the Whittier bloodline. I order all of the demon soldiers from Herne to die, those that are already here and those that continue to emerge from the portal. May they turn to ashes as soon as their feet touch the ground, for this castle is a sanctuary for the loyal subjects of Shardizar and those who are their allies. Any who harbour ill will in their hearts for me and my family must be cleansed from this castle.”  

He closed his eyes as blue arcane magic swept throughout the castle. The hellish battle cries of the Herne Soldiers turned to exasperated screams as they were met with the castle’s wrath.

It was purging itself of the interlopers. He saw the look of horror on Ulwyn’s face as blue flames started to creep up his body. Would his daughters meet the same fate? He didn’t want to think about it—all he wanted to focus on, to cling to, was his love for Neri.

The Whittier ruby ring that Ulwyn had worn hit the castle floor as Ulwyn was consumed by the flames. Magic surrounded the ring and lifted it off the floor and it flew toward Lucan. He extended his hand and felt the warmth of the gold as it slid over his finger.

“Oh, such a glorious sight, Lucan!” Mother Spratt said, smiling widely at him. “You have embraced your destiny! How happy I am for you!”

The invaders were done for—that part of the battle was over.

Lucan had finally claimed his birthright. He had come home and for the rest of his days, he would never stray far from the land that he loved with all of his heart.

Jubilant cheers echoed throughout the castle. They had won! People who barely knew each other started to embrace. Avonry warriors hugged Knight Mages from Shardizar.

Mother Spratt and he embraced. He looked at her briefly as an odd twang entered his heart before he let her go.

Neri, Ryn, Algernon, Grifon and Ava made their way to Lucan, Mother Spratt and his father.

“I always had faith in you, my boy,” Algernon said, in his boisterous way. Lucan smiled at him.

They were all basking in the glory of their victory when Neri’s attention moved to the portal that was still opened to the dimension of Herne. Though all of the demon soldiers were being immolated upon stepping onto the castle floor, the horned thing that was coming head first toward them wouldn’t meet the same fate. He doubted that his ancestor’s magic could affect a Demonic God.

“We have to stop him!” Neri’s voice was high pitched. Before anyone could stop her, she’d changed into a large cat form that looked like a purple panther and she was lunging toward the portal.

“No,” Lucan screamed.

He tried to move but some invisible force was keeping him locked in his position. He could only helplessly witness the death of the woman he loved.

Neri’s magic hit the dimensional portal head on and her body went rigid as her magic and her energy was drained from her body. With a thunderous crashing of bells ringing throughout the castle, the portal was closed. Braidius would not be coming to destroy Shardizar.

He watched as she changed back into her human form. She was lifted into the air. Light cascaded around her as her spirit was separated from her mortal body. She was radiant and his heart was breaking in two.

Ryn looked just as shocked as he felt. An anguished roar keenly resembling that of a dragon carried to them from the village.

Neri was gone.

Lucan’s reason for living was gone. Gasps of grief echoed around him. There had been so many who had loved Neri. Her death would leave a gaping hole in all of their lives.

Mother Spratt hobbled toward him. Her right leg was bloody, and her eyes were as haunted as he knew his were.

“He was too close,” Ryn’s voice was rife with emotion. “She knew it, she somehow sensed it. Normally, it would have taken one life to close the portal but with Braidius being so close it took the many lives that Neri had left to seal the deal.”

“You son of a bitch!” Lucan lunged at him. “She sacrificed herself because of you. You made her doubt who she was and what she was!”

Neri’s spirit materialized in front of him, and kept him from knocking Ryn senseless.

“He did no such thing, Lucan. He merely made me see how much I had to lose if Braidius was allowed passage into this Realm. I couldn’t allow more than one person to die. It was the only sensible solution, don’t you see that, Lucan? I’ve had a good long life. I wish I could have stayed around longer to be with Rhiannon but she is forging her own path now and I would be indebted to you if you watched over her in my absence. As for my body, bury me next to my son, I shall give my wishes to Rhiannon as well.”

He looked away from her.

“He will do whatever you ask, Neri,” Ava’s voice was calm and soothing.

Mother Spratt put her hand on his arm in what she viewed as a comforting gesture. He wanted to shake her off but even in his heartbroken state he couldn’t be that heartless.

“Don’t mourn me for long, Lucan. Your heart will heal. All hearts heal even if they are scarred. You will find another woman to love who deserves it far more than I did. My heart was finally healed when I faced my lingering feelings for Ryn. The love I had for him endured beyond tragedy and betrayal. I don’t know if it’s right or wrong but I would have never been able to love you the way you should be loved, Lucan. Don’t hate me for that, and I pray you will all remember me fondly.”

The other Celestial Beings of Light that had come with Princess Alby started to band together, as if they knew their time in the Mortal Realm was coming to an end.

“Farewell, lad. I was happy to see you again,” Algernon said, as he left his side. “We shall see each other again once you’ve lived a good long life. Be happy, and find yourself the right woman to love!” He winked at him, and moved over to stand with the other fallen members of the Order of St. Alby.

“Goodbye, son. Thank you for giving me what I so desperately sought. Don’t ever carry around your regrets like I did. Don’t let them cripple you. You will find joy when you least expect it.” His father gave him a quick hug and clapped him heartily on the back. Dry mouthed, he watched as his father moved to stand by Algernon.

“My mission here is done,” Ryn said. “I am sorry for seeing you hurt, Lucan. You’re a decent sort of fellow, and I know you will do right by the people of this county, and if you watch over my daughter, you will always have my respect.” He bowed his head to him, and waited as Neri made her peace with Lucan.

“I have to go, Lucan. We have to go and see Rhiannon one last time and then, then, Ryn and I will crossover together. I pray you’ll forgive me in time,” she said, as she embraced him, and gave him a bitterly sweet goodbye kiss.

He felt hollow inside. Neri had made him feel again and now, he’d never have the future he envisioned with her as his wife.

He looked away as Ryn and Neri disappeared.

Seeking to forget his feelings of loneliness, he shifted into his wolf skin and howled mournfully. He leapt toward the great castle doors and charged through them running toward Glynneath.

Twilight crept across the landscape, the pinks, oranges and the purples of twilight streaked across the sky. The remnants of the fierce battle clung to the air and the scent of burned flesh singed his nostrils and made his eyes fill with tears. He knew that Mother Spratt had followed him and was using her super speed to keep up with him in his wolf form.

He arrived just as Rhiannon was saying her tearful farewells to her parents. Shifting out of his wolf form, he walked through the Tavern door which Nell had propped open with the old heavy spittoon from his great-grandfather’s time.

Nell stood by with her children clasped to her side, her face a mirror of the agony he felt. No one could quite understand Neri’s sacrifice and yet, they had to force themselves to come to terms with it.

“Ryn’s time is almost up. I have to go my darling daughter,” Neri said. “Live well and know that I will always be watching over you. Don’t forget me.”

“Never,” Rhiannon sobbed, wiping her tears away with her hand. He stepped close to them. The Tavern was darkened, as if it too keenly felt the loss of Neri.

“Don’t forget me,” Neri said, as she started to shimmer out of sight.

“I won’t,” Lucan murmured, burning entering his chest as she turned to fall into Ryn’s arms.

The lovers were reunited in death and finally had the happiness that had been denied them in life.

“Are they gone?” Aedan asked, stepping into the Tavern.

“Yes,” Lucan said, his throat still dry.

He looked away as Rhiannon sought comfort in Aedan’s arms. He held her as if she were his own daughter. Rhiannon didn’t need him—she had her Uncle, and he had absolutely no one.

Nell walked up to him quietly and handed him a goblet of wine. He sipped at the cool liquid and sighed heavily.

“You look the way I feel, Sir Lucan. I haven’t got a clue as to where I will go now that the farm is gone.”

He looked at her son and daughter sitting on the barstools. They looked as if they’d survived the trauma of losing their family farm really well, and were taking to the Tavern like fish took to water.

“I like this place,” Brett said. “I like the fact that we’re staying where Sir Lucan grew up.”

He smiled at the boy and finally sensed the latent magical talent that resided within him. “You can stay here for as long as you wish, Nell. If you think being Mistress of a Tavern suits your fancy.”