FIREFANGED

Chapter 21 (Connections Restored)

I awoke early the next morning with plenty on my mind. The gentle snoring of Andarion rolled from a large chair near my bed. A pale dawn light showed through my window, and a cool morning breeze stirred the air of the room.

My thanks to Zephyr for waking me from the dead.

My head ached, but my brain seemed to be working again. I nudged Andy, asking him for food and water.

He left and returned—bringing breakfast and Vigil Snow. Another early riser, Snow also had a lot on his mind.

I said, "Vigil Snow, please forgive me if I don't get up, but Doctor's orders. And Andy, thank you, and please stay. There's much for you to hear too."

The dark elf remained standing by the door.

I spent the next hour having breakfast and relaying what I found in and around Bastian, the demonic portal we found there, and our success in destroying it. I also gave a brief account of the contributions of Hicks and Gunner and the status of Yseria Warric as my bodyguard. Andarion knew her well. He gave me a questioning look when I brought her up, but I doubted he would contradict the wishes of his king.

Snow wasn't pleased. "This is the first I have ever heard of a demon portal being planted in a neighboring realm. I've fought hellspawn my entire career. Never once did I think a king would use them as a weapon against his neighboring domains."

"King Ylamil said much the same to me. The dark elves in Bastian are considering their response." Still wanting to digest what I had learned, I left out the details of my visits with the shaman Palypsos.

I reached into my travel pack and pulled out some moldy-looking feathers. "Lord Snow, I took these off a raptor demon about thirty miles north of here. It didn't have any ears to collect as proof of a kill."

"You will be given credit and compensated for all of your kills, as will Hicks and Gunner. It will make a nice promotion ceremony gift for the two of them. Please know, both the service you provided to Bastian and the knowledge you brought back are invaluable. I must send a report to the King in Maidenhall informing him of the potential threat."

I finished our conversation with a request: "Please make sure that Raven and Yseria have access to my funds, and please ask Lynda to stop by when she gets a chance."

After Snow left, Andy closed the door. "Ara, we need to talk."

"Last night, I passed out before I got to speak with Raven about how things turned out. The King rescinded her Decree of Exile. She's welcome home in Bastian. She'll be safe there."

He nodded. "The King's letter explained the situation fully. We are forever indebted to you for what you have done."

From my travel pack, I removed a hunter's talisman and handed it back to Andarion. "Thank you for lending me this. It made a huge difference for us, and I don't think that Sentinel Gunner Trew will ever get over being called 'a goat.'"

"It was the least that I could do." Andarion looped it around his neck. He'd seemed anxious before, but now he relaxed.

"Your connection to your family is restored?"

He nodded. "You could tell?"

"I could feel the difference when you placed it around your neck. There's more to these amulets than hiding one's presence."

"You're not wrong."

I pulled out the two golden disc talismans that were given to me by King Ylamil. "What are these? And why did the King give them to me?"

Andy's eyes went wide in surprise. "Why is simple. You helped save our city and ended a tremendous threat to his line. What they are is not so easy to explain. The silver amulet that you wear is a shamanic device of protection for the House of Ylamil that connects you to Raven and the rest of us. It provides all of us that wear it a faint connection, as well as the subtle cloaking effect that you have experienced first-hand. While the talismans that most of us wear are black, the silver color of yours indicates a gift from the King and thus can be used to seal a betrothal.