I chuckled as she walked out the door, wondering if she knew how soon that might be.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Analleia
Iwatched as they raisedthe banners for the festival, took in the joy etched across my people’s faces as I strolled through the small village we had constructed.It wasn’t much, two dozen houses, a bakery, and a tavern.The remains of the stone structures lay charred and crumbling around us after five years of neglect.We’d salvaged what we could, planted crops.Wayward travelers had come from the trees, joining our little kingdom of misfits.We were far from prosperous, but we were growing, and we would continue to grow.I spent every day working with them, helping to rebuild, helping to tend the crops.I’d cried when I’d met them, as I remembered faces from long ago.
For the first time in five years, I felt at home.
“We need more berries!”one of the women called.
I waved her away, grabbing a woven basket and heading off into the fields for wild berries.It felt strange to be needed, wanted, to experience love and compassion after so many years in the tower, after so many years of being alone.I inhaled the brisk air, taking in the warmth of the sun as I filled my basket.
Hoofbeats sounded behind me and I rolled my eyes.“I know I’m behind, but I’d rather take too long than have her tell me I’ve not gathered enough.”
Our baker was demanding like that, and I didn’t want to risk upsetting her on the festival of our one-year reunion.
I heard the rider dismount, but they said nothing, and a cold shiver raced down my back, my senses ringing alarm bells.
I turned, stunned to silence.
“Valeris,” I said.
Dust coated his travel-worn clothes.His bright, hopeful eyes bore into mine as he approached.I took a step forward, wanting to run to him, wanting to embrace him.It had been so long.But the fact it had been so long held me back.I hesitated.Why would he be here unless something was terribly wrong?
He stopped a few feet away from me, taking in my dress and stained apron.I couldn’t read his expression.
“I’m mad at you.”His voice grated against stone and sent a chill through me.It was the same voice I’d longed to hear every day for the past year, the same voice I’d dreamed about at night.
I swallowed.“You are?”
He nodded.“Yeah, I am.The last time I saw you, you said we would see each other, either in this life or the next.That’s offensive, you know, insinuating you didn’t even think I would make it a year as king.”
His words were so unexpected that I laughed, and a broad smile broke out across his face.
