permeating a land destroyed. Whomever had not been killed by the dragon’s breath had been marred in the conventional battle against the Empire, MacGils and McClouds lying dead, too, entire towns destroyed, piles of rubble everywhere. Reece shook his head: this land, that had once been so abundant, was now ravaged by war.
Ever since arising from the Canyon, Reece and the others had been determined to make it home, to get back to the MacGil side of the Ring. Unable to find horses, they had marched all the way through the McCloud side, up over the Highlands, down the other side, and now, finally, they marched through MacGil territory, passing nothing but ruin and devastation. From the looks of the land, the dragons had help destroyed the Empire troops, and for that, Reece was grateful. But Reece still did not know what state he might find his own people in. Was everyone dead in the Ring? Thus far, it seemed so. Reece was aching to find out if everyone was okay.
Each time they reached a battlefield of dead and injured, the ones not seared by the dragons’ flames, Illepra and Selese went from corpse to corpse, turning them over, checking. Not only were they driven by their professions but Illepra also had another goal in mind: to find Reece’s brother. Godfrey. It was a goal Reece shared.
“He’s not here,” Illepra announced yet again, as she finally stood, having turned over the last corpse of this field, disappointment etched across her face.
Reece could tell how much Illepra cared for his brother, and he was touched. Reece, too, hoped that he was okay and among the living—but from the looks of these thousands of corpses, he had a sinking feeling he was not.
They moved on, marched over yet another rolling field, another series of hills, and as they did, they spotted another battlefield on the horizon, thousands more corpses laid out. They headed for it.
As they walked, Illepra cried quietly. Selese laid a hand on her wrist.
“He’s alive,” Selese reassured. “Do not worry.”
Reece stepped up and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, feeling compassion for her.
“If it’s one thing I know about my brother,” Reece said, “he’s a survivor. He finds a way out of everything. Even death. I promise you. Godfrey is more likely already in a tavern somewhere, getting drunk.”
Illepra laughed through her tears, and wiped them away.
“I hope so,” she said. “For the first time, I really hope so.”
They continued their somber march, silently through the wasteland, each lost in their own thoughts. Images of the Canyon flashed through Reece’s mind; he could not suppress them. He thought back to how desperate their situation had been, and was filled with gratitude to Selese; if she hadn’t appeared when he had, they would still be down there, surely all dead.
Reece reached over and took Selese’s hand and smiled as the two held hands as they walked. Reece was touched by her love and devotion for him, by her willingness to cross the entire countryside just to save him. He felt an overwhelming rush of love for her, and he could not wait until they had a moment alone so he could express it to her. He had already decided he wanted to be with her forever. He felt a loyalty to her unlike he had ever felt to anyone else, and as soon as they had a moment, he vowed to propose to her. He would give her his mother’s Ring, the one his mother had given to him to give to the love of his life, when he found her.
“I can’t believe you crossed the Ring just for me,” Reece said to her.
She smiled.
“It wasn’t that far,” she said.
“Not far?” he asked. “You put your life in danger to cross a war-ravaged country. I owe you. Beyond what I could say.”
“You owe me nothing. I am just glad you’re alive.”
“We
“Speaking of debts, I have one to discuss with you,” Krog said to Reece, coming up beside him with a limp. Since Illepra had splinted his leg at the top of the Canyon, Krog had at least been able to walk on his own, if stiffly.
“You saved me down there, and more than once,” Krog continued. “It was pretty stupid of you, if you ask me. But you did it anyway. Don’t think I owe you, though.”
Reece shook his head, caught off guard by Krog’s gruffness and his awkward attempt to thank him.
“I don’t know if you are trying to insult me, or trying to thank me,” Reece said.
“I have my own way,” Krog said. “I am going to watch your back from now on. Not because I like you, but because that’s what I feel called to do.”
Reece shook his head, baffled as always by Krog.
“Don’t worry,” Reece said. “I don’t like you either.”
They all continued their march, all of them relaxed, happy to be alive, to be above ground, to be back on this side of the Ring—all except Conven, who walked quietly, apart from the others, withdrawn into himself as he had been ever since the death of his twin in the Empire. Nothing, not even an escape from death, seemed to shake him from it.
Reece thought back and recalled how, down there, Conven had thrown himself recklessly into danger, time and again, nearly killing himself to save the others. Reece could not help but wonder if it came more from a desire to kill himself than to help the others. He worried about him. Reece did not like to see him so alienated, so lost in depression.
Reece walked up beside him.
“You fought brilliantly back there,” Reece said to him.
Conven just shrugged and looked down to the ground.
Reece wracked his brain for something to say, as they marched on in silence.
“Are you happy to be home?” Reece asked. “To be free?”
Conven turned and stared at him blankly.
“I’m not home. And I’m not free. My brother is dead. And I have no right to live without him.”
Reece felt a chill run through him at his words. Clearly, Conven was still overwhelmed with grief; he wore it like a badge of honor. Conven was more like the walking dead, his eyes blank. Reece recalled them once filled with joy. Reece could see that his mourning was deep, and he had the sinking feeling that it might not ever lift from him. Reece wondered what would become of Conven. For the first time, he did not think anything good.
They marched and marched, and hours passed, and they reached yet another battlefield, shoulder to shoulder with corpses. Illepra and Selese and the others fanned out, going corpse to corpse, turning them over, looking for any sign of Godfrey.
“I see a lot more MacGils on this field,” Illepra said hopefully, “and no dragon’s breath. Maybe Godfrey is here.”
Reece looked up and saw the thousands of corpses and wondered, even if he was here, if they could ever find him.
Reece spread out and went corpse to corpse, as did the others, turning each over. He saw all the faces of his people, face to face, some he recognized and some he didn’t, people he had known and fought with, people who had fought for his father. Reece marveled at the devastation that had descended on his homeland, like a plague, and he earnestly hoped that it was all finally passed. He’d seen his fill of battles and wars and corpses to last a lifetime. He was ready to settle down into a life of peace, to heal, to rebuild again.
“HERE!” shouted Indra, her voice filled with excitement. She stood over a body and stared down.
Illepra turned and came running over, and all of them gathered around. She knelt beside the body, and tears flooded her face. Reece knelt down beside her and gasped to see his brother.
Godfrey.
His big belly sticking out, unshaven, his eyes closed, too pale, his hands blue with cold, he looked dead.
Illepra leaned over and shook him, again and again; he did not respond.
“Godfrey! Please! Wake up! It’s me! Illepra! GODFREY!”
She shook him again and again, but he did not rouse. Finally, frantically, she turned to the others, scanning their belts.
“Your wine sack!” she demanded to O’Connor.
O’Connor fumbled at his waist and hastily removed it and handed it to Illepra.
