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Now that Jaus didn’t have to spend as much time battling dresalods, he’d shifted his and his soldiers’ focus to transplanting the shrubs that had not only saved our lives but provided ongoing protection. The dresalods kept reproducing, but at least they could no longer reach us. Each time they left the sea, they encountered the herb and vast numbers of them realized their mistake.
“We’ve planted lindenmint shrubs for many cliks below the city and are slowly working our way north,” Jaus said. “We’ve discovered something else interesting about the dresalods, however.”
We all listened eagerly.
“Their numbers are going down.”
“Really?” Odik exclaimed. He took their daughter from Eleri and laid her across his shoulder, patting her back while she continued to sleep.
“My idea’s working, correct?” I said, smiling at Jaus. “I know you were skeptical.”
“I always listen to you, mate.”
I chuckled. “Not at first.”
He leaned over and kissed my nose before shooting everyone a grin. “She’s right, but I’ve learned the error of my ways. Now that we burn the dresalods carcasses and use the ashes to fertilize our fields, those still in the sea have less to eat. Less to eat means fewer dresalod young. We don’t expect to eliminate them all, and we’re not sure we should since they eat refuse off the bottom of the sea, keeping it clean, but it would be nice not to worry about them coming to shore again in such large numbers.”
“To such a future,” Odik said, lifting his glass.
We all did the same, hoping the fates would watch over us and give us a chance to live in peace.
Jaus smiled down at me and, curling forward, gave me a kiss.
To think I’d fought him from the moment I met him. Now, I couldn’t imagine loving anyone more than him and our daughter. We’d soon visit my sister again to show off Shirra, and Madr came to dinner at least once a week.
I had a new life. A new family.
Snug in Jaus’s embrace, there was no place I’d rather be.
Would you like to read a bonus epilogue
from Rhoslyn’s point of view?
She and Jaus are going to visit Feyla’s
nest and they’re bringing her a few
surprises. I’d tell you what they are, but
I don’t want to spoil thesecret.
