Epilogue

Adrostos hugged his sons one last time, loath to leave them, but he knew he must. The time was now, Ghalt must be stopped, and thankfully Telaan had given him the means to complete his goal.

The woman who had raised Adrostos smiled at him. His own parents had placed him in her care when he had seen but six springs as he had shown an unnatural gift of magique. It happened sometimes, but it was rare, when it did, the child must be placed with someone of the same nature who could nurture and raise the child as was appropriate. He did not know if his sons would also have the gifts of Chandra, but he didn’t trust his own parents as he did the woman who stood before him.

“Worry not, my special one, they will be safe with me. I will not allow any harm to come to them as had to your sister and wife. Neither Ghalt nor his minions will be allowed in this village ever again. We now know what to look for.”

“You know what to look for, Chandristis, no one else does. I only feel safe leaving them with you.”

“I will protect them with my life, my child. May Chandra walk with you always and walk safe in the world.”

“And you, Chandristis.”

Adrostos turned to the two white haired toddlers who shared his looks with their mother’s. “Be good, my sons. The guidance of Chandristis is wise beyond measure.”

“Bye, papa,” they both said at the same time. There was no doubting that his children had a link that was complete between them, a sign that they too would be needing to grow up in the presences of the Chandristis.

“I will return to you as soon as I am able.”

Adrostos walked away, a heavy heart knowing he had to leave his children one more time. He had the strength and ability to mentor one who carried the gifts of Chandra and he would have liked to have been the one to pass those gifts on to his precious sons that reminded him so much of his beloved Jocosta, but he was not able. He must rid his family of Ghalt’s threat forever.

He had no more than passed through the gateway into the Chandra Valley and was preparing to teleport to (a town) when a dark shadow appeared overhead. He looked up to see a large white dragon coming in to land before him. He waited patiently until the dragon had taken human form before speaking, “Master Kiseren, it is good to see you fly once more.”

“My dear Elf, I’m beyond pleased that you have given me such a gift, you and your friends, and I have news that I need to impart that will allow me to repay a small portion of the debt I owe.”

“You owe me nothing, Master Kiseren. The loss of Ghalt’s power is payment enough.”

“Yes, yes, be that as it may. I was just wandering around Acantha, checking out the old haunts and trying to find that no good for nothing brother of mine when I inadvertently stumbled onto news I knew I must share with you. I was in a pub, enjoying a fine mug of Blackburn when two men at a table were talking of a redheaded woman who lives in Mist Hollow and how she’d been working for the Guidance of Twelve, and that she’d carried out at least two executions for them. One a man named Yam.”

“Yes, I remember when Yam was killed more than a year ago, no one knew who had poisoned him.”

“Well, apparently she’s been their spy for some time. The second death was you own Jocosta.”

Adrostos’ blood ran cold. “Electra killed Jocosta?”

“I don’t know, they never said her name, but they did call her the redheaded bitch who owned a restaurant. I thought you might be able to figure out who’d done it from that.”

“Electra.”

“I guess you have then, my dear Elf. Now I must fly off, I’m so enjoying my new freedom.”

His plans suddenly changed, Adrostos returned to the Valley. He must prepare for a little side-trip before he began his journey looking for Ghalt.