Rise of the Erifs (The Fire Song Chronicles Book 1)

Chapter 39

Latainia

"GOOD MORNING, SLEEPY HEAD," DAYE WHISPERED, SOFTLY. 

Jaydar groaned as he stretched his arms. He hadn't slept so well in what felt like years. He smiled as he saw Daye sitting in a chair beside the bed.

"Hey," he said.

The moment they had arrived in Latainia Jaydar had collapsed. All his strength spent, he had been running on adrenaline to get out of Keppar. Once he reached safety and the danger was past his legs gave way beneath him and he had collapsed utterly exhausted.

"You know you've been asleep for the past three days," Daye told him.

"What?" Jaydar said, in surprise.

"After you collapsed, Gage and Torin had to carry you back. The doctor checked you over and said you needed an energizer to build you up and a long rest." Daye put her hand on his. "I really thought we'd lost you."

"So did I for a moment back there," Jaydar said.

Daye was about to say something when there was a knock at the door. Daye stood up and opened it.

Kalani looked past Daye and saw Jaydar awake. She pushed Daye aside and ran in. She threw her arms around Jaydar and held him close. Jaydar wrapped his arms around his little sister. He kissed her on the head.

"I missed you," Kalani said, as she pulled away.

"I missed you."

"Are you okay? I mean are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, I'll be just fine."

"Good."

"So what's been happening since I've been gone?" Jaydar asked.

Kalani and Daye exchanged a glance. Where to start? After taking a deep breath Daye launched into a detailed account of what had happened to her. After she finished Kalani filled Jaydar in on the events on Latainia starting with his imposter's appearance until the present. Jaydar was silent as he listened to her, he felt the anger slowly increasing. Kalani stopped. She didn't know how she was going to tell Jaydar about their father.

"What is it?" Jaydar said, he could see something was troubling his younger sister.

A tear trickled down Kalani's face. She wiped it away quickly.

"It is father," she stammered. "Laykin murdered him."

Jaydar closed his eyes. It hit him hard in the chest. The shock was so great he felt physically ill. Emotion flooded him, anger and grief mixing together. Images and memories flashed before him. He nearly doubled over as the pain punched him. He pulled Kalani close to him, feeling her tears soaking through his shirt. 

"I'm back now and we're going to fight together, you, Torin and me. We'll stick together. We're going to do what father always dreamed of and put Torin on the throne," Jaydar said.

Kalani nodded. It was their father's dream to see his son rule.

"And we're going to finish what he started. Stop the Erifs," Jaydar said.

"Yes." Kalani wiped the tears from her eyes. "We're going to drive them into the ground." 

"Because Latainia is our home and we are not going to stand by and watch it fall to the Erifs," Jaydar said, determinedly. 

"Yes, Latainia shall rise once again," Daye said.

"Where are mother and Torin?" he asked.

"They're at a meeting," Kalani said and seeing Jaydar's puzzled look she elaborated, "There's a council of leaders who run the Resistance and help Torin."