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Chapter 36

Reynard

What could be more painful than watching her go?

I stood on the dock long after the last three galleons had left the bay. They carried the remaining enemy soldiers and my heart with them. Sana stood on the stern of one of the ships, as immobile as the statue of a goddess, while the sun framed her figure in a soft glow.

She hadn’t been herself for several days. Quieter, more intense, spending every second showing how much she loved me. Worse, my dragon mirrored her behaviour and refused to leave her alone even for a moment.

Cinared, I called once the ships were only hazy dark shapes on the horizon. Come, it’s time to fly home.

I’m not coming with you, Reynard, Cin answered. My sigh echoed the dragon’s as I saw the ships through his eyes while he fought against buffeting, ice-cold currents.

We talked about this, I said, wondering why we’d had all those discussions in which Sana insisted he stay here until he finally agreed.

No, Rey, you talked about it. You and my Sanika decided I’d stay, but that was never going to happen. His thoughts offered no apology. He clearly considered it the right choice.

It is the right choice, Rey. Someone has to bring her back.

I didn’t argue. If anything, this rebellious act eased a worry I’d carried since Sana told me her plans. Cinared loved her with all the fire in his dragon heart. She would be safe with him.

Guard her well, my friend, but don’t make me wait too long for your return.

Cin didn’t answer, and I turned away and headed to camp.

Earlier this morning, I’d ordered Ivar to take command of Tivala’s castle until Inga decided what she wanted to do. He paled and gagged when I revealed Tivala’s fate, but he had to know, especially after I ordered him to restore and preserve the castle in immaculate condition, repairing every crumbling brick and eliminating every hint of decay.

I wouldn’t have the pleasure of ripping the perverted bastard to pieces, but I was going to ensure his suffering lasted several lifetimes.

‘Sire, the army is ready to march,’ Ivar said, holding my new mount’s reins.

My faithful companion had fallen in battle. My heart tightened when my horse, unused to a berserker’s presence, danced and snorted at the sight of me.

‘Then we ride. I’ll send you a letter with Inga’s decision. If she relinquishes her duties, the southern province will be yours. You deserve lands of your own, and I owe you a debt of gratitude for this campaign and so much more,’ I said.

Ivar’s cheeks flushed, and he swallowed hard. ‘I’m not of noble blood.’

‘You’ve the noblest heart of any man here. You will be invested with your title during the Autumn Equinox, or earlier when the queen returns.’ It felt good to give myself a timeframe. Something to look forward to as I counted each minute without her.

‘Lady Roksana will return, yes?’ he asked.

I was surprised by how many soldiers protested her departure and how many southerners bowed when she passed, calling her the Songstress. I’d hoped this strange worship would die down once the Tangra threat passed, but it only grew stronger.

‘She’ll return. Cinared will make sure of it.’

I set out with the soldiers once they and the support were ready. I didn’t rush them. My men were tired; hell, I was too, and frankly, my plan was to send everyone but the core of my army home as we went so they could return to their farms and the harvest.

We slept on the edge of Piran’s Swamp the first night. Nothing disturbed us. The sentries, though diligent, almost fell asleep from boredom. More bizarre were the stags that stood inside the treeline, silently watching.

Although it was late spring, it didn’t rain. However, that didn’t stop nature’s return; flowers of all colours appeared in the fields. The next night, we stayed in Ostrava, the town where Sana first manifested her vivamancer ability. The old healer was gone, and his replacement didn’t harbour the same resentment towards forbidden magic. It was a small mercy, mainly for him. The soldiers would brook no one speaking ill of the woman who saved their lives with her monstrous army.

The first two companies disbanded there. Their captains were heading towards Lumivitae with our captives and my letter to the high fae king that invited him to explain his son’s misdeeds. Unfortunately, Prince Iasno’ta fled when the battle turned and hadn’t been forced to face the consequences of his betrayal.

The final evidence of the war’s end came as we passed the pillars. It wasn’t just the crumbling structures or the flaking srebrec, but the sight of green shoots breaking through the grey landscape, reclaiming their realm.

‘Ormond should be in the palace by now. Send a message to my brother; we’ll arrive by nightfall tomorrow,’ I told my adjutant, and the man rushed back to the battle mages.

A hot bath and my own bed sounded like a dream, but I couldn’t help dreading returning to somewhere marked by Roksana’s presence and not finding her there.