The Price of Freedom

EPILOGUE

Aefion stood on the wooden jetty, looking out west across the rolling plains towards the coast. The peaceful sound of the babbling stream below combined with birdsong and the low whispering of the wind made for a tranquil atmosphere. He took a deep breath. Jasper Tenegrin had been dealt with, his mission was over. Finally, the last rascist hue-man of Glint's court was out of the picture. It weighed upon him heavily that Tenegrin had not surrendered. Not all hue-men displayed such hate, but they were a fickle race, and all too often their minds turned to hatred of those who were different from their own kind.  

His attention was snapped back to earth by the sound of hooves clattering on the wooden boards of the jetty. Twisting around, he saw a broad-shouldered figure clad in shining plate armour approaching on a powerful, bay destrier. Behind the knight sat Cassandra, garbed in practical riding breeches and a clean, white blouse.  

As the knight dismounted and lifted Cassandra down, Aefion turned.  

'Leon of Ardor?' He asked, extending his hand in greeting. The knight removed the helmet from his head and shook out his mane of auburn hair.  

'Well met, Aefion,' Leon replied, grasping the elf's forearm and nearly crushing it. He wrapped his arm around Cassandra and swept a hand through his hair. 'Now that Cassandra will have to take the responsibility of Queen, I thought I might offer her my aid.'  

'I'm sure she will accept it gladly,' Aefion replied, giving a mischievous smile.  

'It's good to have Leon back,' Cassandra laughed. 'He's been gone, away at Rosehearth in the south for six months.' Aefion could see that she was clearly smitten. 'Such a long posting...only the most heroic of knights could've accepted it. There's so much to talk about!'  

'Well,' Leon said gruffly, 'My thanks are in order for rescuing this young brat. If there is anything you would have us do in return...'  

'I'll keep it in mind.' 

'Good luck for the journey back,' Cassandra said gently. Taking Aefion in a hug, she stepped back and took a deep breath.  

'My good will go with you, friend,' Leon declared. 'May Loriell bless you.'  

'I'm sure you will make a great queen...and king,' Aefion said coolly, bowing his head in respect. Leon blushed, despite his outward confidence. 'Look after yourselves, and your kingdom. The friendship between our realms will continue to flourish.' Then, shouldering his pack, the elf turned and began the trudge south. Behind him he heard the knight getting back onto his steed and helping Cassandra climb up behind him. As the hoof beats faded off into the distance, he glanced skywards. It looked like rain.  

Aefion stood on a grassy ridge overlooking the small city of Vigilance. Its twin towers rose like stone spears, the bright red pennants secured to their tips snapping in the wind. His gaze fell to the drilling soldiers in the central courtyard, looking like shiny, metallic insects. Satisfied that his task here was done, he turned to look out across Lightwood Forest.  

The forest sprawled as far as the eye could see, an undulating, tangled mass of green. Here and there distant clumps of trelacylons burst through the canopy like the protruding heads of giant saurians, the sun glinting off the architecture in their topmost branches. Lightwood had once been the home of the Rad'El, one of the Ancestor Races, and since their departure had expanded to cover most of Belanyr. It was both ancient and terrible and yet he knew it was the island's greatest feature. This was the realm of the Beltharin, the heart of Belanyr, and as far as he was concerned, the most splendid of all Aramir's ten realms.  

It was time to go home.  

THE END