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I heard a door opening and a short burst of music and laughter, then the door closed again, and all was silent except for footsteps crunching through the snow.
‘All alone, Wulfram?’
I smiled as Emrick sat beside me on the bench. ‘Just needed a moment to think.’
‘To think, or to worry?’
Oh, he knew me so well!
‘It’s going to be all right, you know,’ he said gently. ‘I have every faith in you.’
‘What if I let everyone down?’ I asked. ‘It seemed like such a good idea when it was just that, but now we’re actually here living in Castle Clair, and work’s starting on our headquarters soon, and then the Pendragon Alliance will be up and running. What if I can’t make it work? What if—’
He laid a hand on my arm. ‘All you need to do is believe in yourself,’ he said firmly. ‘As I believe in you.’
We were quiet for a moment, then he said, ‘I’m not the only one who believes in you either.’
I looked up as he got to his feet, surprised when he handed me a folded piece of paper.
‘This is for you,’ he said. ‘I think you need to see it. She asked me to give it to you when I felt the time was right, and this is the moment. I’ve hung on to it for so long, Wulfram. I’m glad to finally be able to pass it to you, with her love.’
‘Her love?’ I asked, frowning. ‘Whose love?’
He smiled. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’
As he returned to the house I stared down at the paper, then waved a hand over it so lights gently shone on it, making it easy to read.
It took me a few moments, but by the time I’d finished tears were rolling down my cheeks. Emrick had been right. This was exactly the right moment to give the letter to me. It was all I needed.
I stood up, folded the paper, and put it in my coat pocket, then gazed up at the sky.
‘Thank you,’ I whispered. ‘We’ve got this.’
Because I knew I couldn’t fail. I had my team. I had my family. Whatever challenges came our way we would face them together, and we’d succeed. We would bring peace and unity to the magical world.
It was, after all, our destiny.
Chapter 58
Wren
My dear Wulfram
As I write this it has been many, many years since I last saw you. I wonder how long it’s been since you last saw me? Not long, I suspect.
I have missed you! I think of you every day, wondering how you’re doing, and how Harley, Keely and Trinity are, as well as the rest of the family. It seems like another lifetime ago to me now, and indeed, it was.
I’m an old lady. You wouldn’t recognise me, Wulfram. I hardly recognise myself when I look in the mirror. I’m no longer a redhead! My hair is now as white as Phoenix’s was, can you believe?
Sadly, I lost Phoenix three years ago. I miss him every single moment of every single day, but I take comfort from knowing that he loved me dearly, and I loved him so much in return.
I think, when I look back on my life, that’s what I remember most: how lucky I’ve been to be loved. By Ewella, the woman I knew as “Mum”. By Keely and Harley, who I’ve always thought of as my sisters, no matter what our genes might say. By you and Trinity, my blood siblings. By my darling Phoenix, and our family.
Don’t worry about me. My son, Bevil (yes we named him after his uncle, how could we not?) inherited his father’s magical gifts, and he’s made sure that I continue to be well cared for and provided for. I’ve wanted for nothing, and I’m so grateful that Phoenix and I were blessed with such a wonderful son.
I have a grandson, too! Don’t blush, but my son and his wife named him Lowen, after you. I think, really, you will always be Lowen to me. I remember you as that shy, uncertain young man who arrived on this island clutching a briefcase to your chest as if your life depended on it. And you brought a tent with you, do you remember? You’d heard there was no shelter on the island. Your face when you saw Peloryon House!
Oh, I have such happy memories of those times, and of the short time we spent together in this house—you, me, Phoenix and Emrick. What an adventure we had! Phoenix did as he hoped, you know. Not only was he an excellent leader of the High Council, but he did so much good for the local community. He set up an educational facility for the children of Polkayne and Gerrenporth, and he gave so much to the poor families, ensuring they received warm clothes and good food. Everyone here loved him so much.
