The Halfing

Chapter 9: Requiem

Dear Mom and Dad,

I know this letter won't reach either of you. It can't. But this is a letter that I felt like I needed to write. I haven't talked to you in a long time and I wanted to tell you some things that I thought you might want to know if you get a chance to see it wherever you are.

First, Ez has been doing a fantastic job as the king of Katolis. It's been twenty years since he took the throne and it looks like he'll be there for a while yet. He managed to finish what you started, Mom—getting rid of dark magic. You can't practice it legally anywhere in the human kingdoms or Xadia. There's no need to. Humans can connect with the Primal sources to do magic; it just takes a lot of extra work. I've been helping with that since I'm the High Mage and the first human to truly connect with an arcanum.

Speaking of High Mages, Viren is gone. I don't know where he is and frankly, the only reason I want to know is so we can get rid of him. He's done so many terrible things, Dad, and even though he was your friend I can't understand why . I haven't seen him in five years but I can feel his presence hanging over everything like a dark shadow. I wish I could figure out why.

In happier news, you'll both be glad to know I got married about thirteen years ago. You might be a little less glad to know that my wife is an elf—a Moonshadow elf who tried to kill me when we first met. But I love her very much, and she's strong and brave and smart and beautiful and I can't find enough words to say how much I love her and our children, all three of them.

Sarai is our oldest. Rayla jokes that she looks like a female version of me with horns, but I don't see it. Honestly, she takes more after her mom than me, especially with how strong she is at the age of eleven. She kind of has to be, since Ezran has named her the heir to the throne of Katolis. The first halfling born in over a thousand years and she's going to be the queen. I hope I'm around to see it when it happens because I know she's going to do great things.

As for our other two, they're a pair by the name of Saoirse and Harrow. Twins, turning five soon, and they're the ones who really take after Rayla, too—silver hair and violet eyes but no horns. Harrow is our shy one. He follows Rayla and his twin sister around like a baby duckling, though, and he'll go along with whatever his sisters suggest. I think he's going to be a mage like me one day. Saoirse has made it clear she wants to live with Aunt Amaya in Lux Aurea.

Oh, yeah. Aunt Amaya got married a little while before I did. To an elf. She married the Sunfire elf queen, who isn't the friendliest person until you get to know her. They rule Lux Aurea together. I love when we go to visit since Aunt Janai always pulls out all the stops to make sure our visit is the best possible, even if we're only passing through on our way to the Storm Spire. I think you both would've liked her. I know Soren does and he's always trying to beat her in duels when he goes with us... not that he does much of that these days. He's got a family to take care of since he doesn't know the meaning of the word 'restraint' when it comes to things he cares about.

Basically, he and Claudia have opened a foster home for humans and elves.

There's so much more I want to tell you both, but I either can't find the words or it's not the sort of thing you say over a letter. I'm sure you can see us from where you are, and I hope I can see you again someday so I can tell you everything else.

I love you both.

Love,

Callum.

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He folded the page and stuck it in his bag just in time.