The Veiled One

Part Two: In The End

Chapter Twelve:

I remember how much my life sucked

The cry rings throughout the village as soon as the door shudders shut behind me, leaving me breathless and confused. Villagers are rushing forwards across the grass, Endor first and foremost among them. But Sibyl is still inside. How can I go forward now, knowing what I do about her and knowing how I feel about her?

I will find a way to break your curse, I promised. I will make the gods listen to me this time. I won't just whisper, I'll roar. And if they don't, then so help me I will tear down the heavens inch by inch until they give you back to me.

But that is all the time I have to think as Endor wraps his arms around me, holding me tight against him. I run my hands over his hair, kissing his head and feeling tears spring from my eyes as he whispers, "I knew you could do it."

"Endor, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," I tell him over and over again as he hushes me.

"It's okay. You had to go," he repeats in a soothing refrain.

Leo is soon upon us, and he wraps his arms around both of us.

"I didn't think you could do it," he says, and I smile through my tears.

"I did what I had to do," I reply, unwilling to admit just yet that the Veiled One is alive, or worse—that I'm madly, hopelessly, completely in love with her.

"Come on," Leo says, wrapping one arm around me and the other around Endor. "I've got a feast laid out at my place. Oh, speaking of my place, I've got one now."

"Congratulations, Leo."

"Thanks. Endor's been my roommate for so long, it'll be strange not having him around."

My face takes on a confused look as he says that. "Endor stayed with you? What about Martina?"

Endor and Leo suddenly study the ground, finding it very interesting. Since there is no hidden gold among the dirt, I know something is wrong. I brace for the worst.

"She isn't... dead, is she?" Even though I love Sibyl now, I can't bear the thought that Martina lies dead without a single explanation from me.

"No," Endor admits reluctantly.

"Then what is she?"

And then, just ahead, I see her. Martina is walking side-by-side with Jorgan, the butcher's son. In her arms is a newborn baby.

Something inside me unexpectedly twists, and I stumble. The villagers trailing behind me, singing their praises to the gods, hardly notice, but she is all I can see.

"She's... married to him?"

Leo nods sadly. "I'm sorry, Sy, I really am. After you left, Endor explained the entire situation. Said you had left to kill the Veiled One so that she couldn't hurt anyone ever again. She didn't even mourn you for a week. Just moved on with that damned butcher fellow."

"I prayed for you and for her every night," Endor tells me in a low voice.

"That was so sudden," I manage.

"Aye. Everyone thinks... Well, Sylas, they think..."

"They think what?" I snarl.

"They think she cuckolded you."

That thought stings worse than the thought that Martina simply didn't waste her time with a man who was probably dead. I would never have done that to her. But didn't I, when I fell in love with Sibyl? I was still in love with Martina, I thought, but every night when Sibyl talked to me, I came to love her more.