you remember what we talked about at the Winds Abbey the last time we were there?”
A smile tugged at the corners of Royce’s mouth. “Everyone deserves a little happiness.”
“Yes, never forget that. Oh, and if you find any books across the Nidwalden, bring them the next time you visit. I’d love to learn more about the elves.”
“So this is goodbye,” Hadrian said as he and Arista came down the palace steps hand in hand.
“You’ll finally be rid of me,” Royce told him.
“You’ll be visiting again soon, won’t you?” Arista asked.
He nodded and smiled. “I doubt they have Montemorcey on the other side of the river. I only have room to bring a few bottles.”
“Then I will be sure to always have it on hand,” Arista told him. In her hands, she held out the Horn of Gylindora. “It’s supposed to go with the ruler of the elves.”
“Thanks.”
“No escort for the king?” Hadrian asked, looking around.
“They are meeting us at the crossroads at the bottom of the hill beyond the forest. I didn’t want them staring at me while we said goodbye.”
He took Arista’s hand and placed Hadrian’s on top of it. “I am officially turning him over to you. He’s your problem now. You’ll have to watch out for him and that won’t be easy. He’s naive, gullible, immature, horribly unsophisticated, ignorant about anything worth knowing, and idealistic to a fault.” He paused to make a show of thinking harder. “He’s also indecisive, pathetically honest, a horrible liar, and too virtuous for words. He gets up twice each night to relieve himself, wads his clothes rather than folds them, chews with his mouth open, and talks with his mouth full. He has a nasty habit of cracking his knuckles every morning at breakfast, and, of course, he snores. To remedy that, just put a rock under his blanket.”
“That was you? All those nights when we camped?” Hadrian looked shocked.
Arista put her arms around the thief and hugged him tight. Royce squeezed her back, then looked into her eyes for a long moment. “He’s a very lucky man.”
She smiled and kissed him goodbye.
Hadrian grabbed him next, hugging him and clapping him on the back. “Be careful out there, pal.”
“I’m always careful. Oh, and do me a favor. See that Magnus gets this.” Royce handed him Alverstone. “Wait until I’m gone, and tell him-tell him the maker said he should have it.”
Modina, Amilia, and Nimbus came out of the palace with the two girls and Mr. Rings, who Amilia held awkwardly in her arms. The empress was wiping tears from her cheeks and struggling to keep her lips from shaking. When she got to the steps, she bent down and hugged Mercedes, holding her for several minutes before letting her go. When she did, the little girl ran down the steps and pointed. “Is that my pony?”
Royce nodded and Hadrian threw her up onto it.
“Bye-bye, Allie!” she shouted, petting the pony’s mane. “I am off to become a fairy princess.” Amilia handed up the raccoon.
Nimbus was dressed in traveling clothes, a small pack on his back and his familiar leather satchel at his side.
“You’re leaving now as well?” Amilia hugged Nimbus.
“I regret to say I must be off, Your Ladyship. It is time to go.”
“I am sure your family in Vernes will be happy to see you return.”
He smiled and, dipping his head, removed his chain of office and placed it in her hands.
“Where’s your horse?” Hadrian asked.
“I don’t need one,” Nimbus replied.
“I think the empire can spare at least that much,” Modina told him.
“I am certain it can, Your Eminence, but I honestly prefer walking.”
It took another round of hugs, kisses, waves, and wishes of safe travels before Royce, Mercedes, and Nimbus actually started down the slope. Allie ran alongside all the way to the trees and then waved madly before turning and running back to Modina.
Nimbus walked with them and Royce was careful to keep a slow, even pace.
They entered the forest and soon lost all sight of the palace, the city, and the hill. They traveled in silence, listening to the morning symphony of birdsongs and honeybees. Mercedes was mesmerized by her new pet.
“What’s my pony’s name?” she asked.
“I don’t think it has one yet. Would you like to name it?”
“Oh yes… Let me see… What’s yours called, Daddy?”
“Mine is Mouse. The empress gave her that name.”
Mercedes crinkled her nose. “I don’t like that. Is mine a boy or a girl?”
“Boy,” Royce told her.
“Boy… okay, hmm.” She tapped her lips with a perplexed expression, then furrowed her brow in serious thought.
“How about Elias?” Nimbus suggested. “Or perhaps Sterling.”
Royce stared at the ex-chancellor, who smiled pleasantly in return.
“Sterling is nice,” Mercedes said.
The forest thinned and they reached the open field where the old road crossed the new ones, freshly pressed by holiday travelers, leading west to Ratibor and north to Colnora. A short distance away a group of riders in gold and blue on white mounts waited.
“This is where we part,” Nimbus told them.
Royce stared at the thin man in the wig. “Who are you really?”
Nimbus smiled. “You already know that.”
“If it hadn’t been for you…” Royce paused. “I’ve always regretted that I never said thank you.”
“And I wish to thank you as well, Royce.”
He was puzzled. “For what?”
“For reminding me that anyone, no matter what they’ve done, can find redemption if they seek it.”
The thin man turned and walked down the road toward Ratibor. Royce watched him go, then turned to his daughter. “Let’s go visit the elves, shall we?” he asked. Just then, thunder cracked from overhead, shaking the ground and rustling the leaves on the trees.
Royce looked up at the clear blue sky, confused.
“Look!” Mercedes said, pointing down the road.
Royce turned to see Nimbus standing still, his head bent back, his eyes looking up.
A white feather drifted downward. It swirled, blowing on a gentle breeze until it was close enough that the tall spindly man in the white powdered wig reached up and caught it between his fingers. He kissed it gently, then slipped it into his leather pouch. He pulled the bag closed and continued on his way, whistling a merry tune, until he passed behind a hill and was gone.
Glossary of Terms and Names
Abner Gallsworth: Aquesta City Administrator
Adam: Wheeler from Ratibor
Adeline: Queen of Alburn, married to Armand, sons: Rudolf and Hector, daughter: Beatrice
Adwhite, Sir: Knight and poet, wrote The Song of Beringer
Addie Wood: Mother of Thrace/Modina, wife of Theron, killed in Dahlgren
Albert Winslow: Landless viscount used by Riyria to arrange assignments from the gentry
Alburn: Kingdom of Avryn ruled by King Armand and Queen Adeline, member of the New Empire
Alenda Lanaklin: Daughter of the marquis Victor Lanaklin and sister of Myron the monk
Algar: Woodworker in Hintindar
Allie: Daughter of Wyatt Deminthal, half-elf, once held hostage by Merrick Marius
Alric Essendon, King: Ruler of Melengar, brother of Arista, son of Amrath
