AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Oh, Castor!’ Sky cried, exasperated.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Emrick said. ‘I think you’re probably right. And all that really matters is that you know the truth and feel at peace.’
‘Do you remember what it said on Romy’s invitation?’ Keely asked suddenly. ‘Because I do. It said she would begin her journey home.’ She burst into tears and Wulfram quickly gathered her in his arms as she sobbed. ‘Well, she’s gone home now, hasn’t she? We’ll never see her again.’
Killian put his arms around Harley as she, too, began to cry. I knew I couldn’t possibly be feeling as bad as they did, because I hadn’t known Romy anywhere near as long as they had, but she was still my sister, and I’ll admit I felt a huge sense of loss. She’d left before I’d even had the chance to get to know her.
‘Mum,’ Keely asked finally, as her sobs quietened down, ‘did you know this would happen to Romy?’
‘No,’ Ewella said. Her eyes were bright with tears, but she wasn’t crying. ‘I just knew one of the two girls would make a huge sacrifice and I was terrified every day about which one of them it would be and what the sacrifice would entail. Now that I know, I must admit I’m relieved. Romy gave up her magic and I know that was a huge thing for her. And she gave up her family to travel through time with the man she loved. But I feel at peace, too, because I know she and Phoenix were happy. Romy—Wren—found her place in the world. Her home. I can only be happy for her.’
‘But what about after Phoenix died?’ Keely insisted. She gazed beseechingly at Emrick. ‘Did you see her? Please tell me she was all right even without magic.’
‘She was absolutely fine,’ he promised her. ‘Of course she grieved for her husband, but she had the compensation of a loving son, who took care of her and made sure she was comfortable and safe. And she also had the joy of her grandson, who she adored.’ He smiled. ‘They named him Lowen. I can’t imagine why.’
Wulfram swallowed. ‘They named him Lowen?’
‘Phoenix and Romy made sure their son and grandson knew all about you. About all of you. That family was exceptionally good at keeping secrets.’
‘Well, you can talk!’ Sky said, and we all laughed, easing the tension a little.
‘Perhaps there’s something you’d like to see,’ Emrick said. ‘Something that might bring you some comfort. I found it some time ago and moved it to the classroom. You know, the room in the tower where you all had your lessons with Sirius?’
‘Let’s go and find it,’ Sky said eagerly.
Iliana, Raiden, Aurora, Hector, Castor, and Mrs Greenwood decided to stay put, as did Benedict, who took a sleeping Seren from Star’s arms so she could join us, and Sirius who was still in too much pain with his leg to climb so many stairs.
‘We’ll see it later,’ Iliana promised. ‘Right now, I think we need time to absorb everything we’ve heard. You all go ahead and tell us what you find.’
The rest of us fairly galloped up the stairs of the tower and threw open the classroom door, shuddering to a halt as we saw, on the wall at the back of the room, a portrait of three people: a white-haired man and a red-haired woman, perhaps in their mid to late forties, and a young black-haired boy with dark eyes, aged around eleven or twelve. Perched on the man’s shoulder was a beautiful raven. Nightwing.
Awestruck, we crept slowly towards it and stared up at it, drinking in every detail. Celeste read the attached plaque out loud.
‘Phoenix and Wren Tremayne with their son…’ She hesitated, and I saw her swallow hard before continuing. ‘With their son, Bevil Emrick Tremayne. 1690.’
‘He named his son after his brother,’ I said.
‘The brother he never stopped adoring,’ Celeste said.
‘And Emrick, too,’ Wulfram added. He smiled. ‘He looks a bundle of mischief, doesn’t he? But at least we know he grew up and took care of his mother. A good man.’
We all looked at each other and I knew we were all struggling to contain our feelings.
‘She looks happy,’ Keely said. ‘She does, doesn’t she?’
Wren and Phoenix gazed unseeingly at us, their smiles wide, their eyes bright. Their body language told us they were as much in love as they’d always been.
‘She really does,’ Harley agreed, putting her arm around her twin. ‘They all do.’
‘Look at Blaise with his white hair,’ Celeste said. ‘I can’t believe it. He came good in the end.’ She leaned against Star who linked arms with her. ‘I’m so glad. I’m happy for him, I really am. Funny to think that he bought that pocket watch especially for me. Oh, this has been such an adventure. Finally, finally I feel it’s coming to an end.’
‘We won’t know what to do with ourselves,’ Harley joked.
‘Find the other key,’ Keely said firmly. ‘That’s our next task.’
Wulfram frowned. ‘Find the other key,’ he murmured. ‘You’re right. We have the Golden Chalice Key, the Sword of Feidhlim, and the magical wand, Excalibur. All that’s missing is the Silver Pentacle Key.’ He ran a hand through his hair, clearly thinking. ‘Chalice, Sword, Wand, Pentacle. The four suits of a tarot deck.’
‘Oh, don’t mention tarot,’ Keely said. ‘Those cards are driving me nuts!’
