Book One: Rise of the King

Epilogue

 Nate leaned against one of the ancient trees of the Adna'neh and watched his brother standing alone in the early twilight. Charlie walked up beside Nate, put a hand on his shoulder.

"He's okay, isn't he?" Charlie asked quietly.

"I don't know. He's never been the same since the Battle of the Valley. You know that." Nate answered, his voice still and soft.

Gray knelt at the cross he had erected for Eli and fussed with the flowers. His head bowed, he stayed in that position until the sun was over the forest and darkness was beginning to slink across the glade. When he rose, Nate and Charlie left the trees and walked through the tall grasses to stand with him before the large stone he had inscribed for Josan. Gray put his hand on the cold rock and closed his eyes.

He could sense them even before he could hear them and turned to face his brothers.

"Hey." Nate said.

"Hey."

They shared the clasp of the Plains warriors in greeting.

"You've really decided to leave, I'm guessing?" Charlie asked.

Gray nodded. "Yeah. It's time, I think."

Charlie gave him the best grin he could offer, wishing Gray would reconsider but knowing he wouldn't. Gray hugged his friend and smiled at him.

"Relax, Charlie. It's not like I'm going off into the woods to die, man."

Charlie chuckled. "I know."

Gray turned then to Nate and pulled his brother close.

"It's been a long walk, guys, and I just need to sit down and rest for a while." He assured them. "Besides, you can't miss the place. It's the only house in the whole damn woods. Just head north along the river for a bit."

Gray grabbed his pack up off the ground. He gave the glade and his brothers a last look before walking toward the northwest corner of the open field. When he stepped into the trees of the forest, he looked over his shoulder. In his mind, memory upon memory crashed over him and he stopped, turned. In his imaging, he could see Nate, Charlie and Eli waiting for him to step out of the trees and into their new world. He found it funny that he was stepping back into the forest without them.