Araman

~ EPILOGUE ~

   Raliena woke with light shining in her eyes. It was a warming light that came from the large window of the room she was in. She realised that she was in a bed and vainly tried to recall how she had gotten there. An irritating silver glint in her eye made Raliena sit up.

Looking around she saw that she was in a castle room, elaborately decorated in blue and gold curtains and bed spread. She must be in Verxia, but this was not her room. The only room she could think of that would be this finely designed would be the Kings. Raliena suddenly remembered that the King was dead and then also remembered she had been named his successor. But that still did not explain how she was here. Dergen would have...

Everything came back in a rush that made her head spin. The battle, the Lagania, the bridge that she had thrown herself from... How in Fardonmeria was she still alive? And was Dergen too?

A creamy net curtain was blowing in from the balcony with a shadow behind it. Raliena panicked and made to get up when a soft voice she recognised floated through to her.

"Do not get up yet." Armon Lozni came through from the balcony. "You need to preserve your strength."

"Am I..?" Raliena began, sinking back into the pillows.

"You are in Verxia, safe and very much alive. Not a scratch on you." Lozni replied sitting on the chair that was placed facing Raliena's bed.

"How?" She asked.

"The Unisayan returned your spirit to you and I am assuming General Kassen returned you the power you gifted to him, making it possible for you to heal yourself. No one knows that this is possible to do other than you, I and the General it seems and they need not know if you do not wish them to. It would mean hiding who you are again, but you would be safe from any other that wish to use your power."

"Kassen is alright? And what about Sherin? And Jaya and Yaline?" There were too many to name. Lozni put her hand up to stop her.

"They are all fine, but grieving. Many people were lost in the battle, including Prince Derend of Attashar; he was killed by Lord Lishini."

Raliena thought of Kassen and Sherin and hoped they were coping.

"Is Dergen..?" Raliena tried to ask.

"Dead? Yes. He will not bother Fardonmeria again."

Raliena subconsciously reached for her neck to find that the chain Dergen had used to bind her was gone for good. She looked at Lozni who smiled again.

"It was lost when you were."

"How long have I been asleep?" Raliena noticed she was wearing a clean nightdress that matched her gold surroundings.

"Just over a week." Lozni straightened her own dress absently.

"Have you been waiting here all this time?"

"No." Lozni laughed. "Everyone has been taking shifts. You have not been left unattended. We have not yet found Lord Lishini. Namare surrendered soon after the army from Attashar arrived, most escaped back to the West. Those that were chased down and caught by King Dagerten's men are being transported back to Attashar, where they will decide what to do with them, as Verxia was without a ruler when the decision was made."

"They have not chosen one yet?"

"They have." Lozni answered and gestured to the room.

"The people still want me? Even though I gave into Dergen and brought this upon them?"

"Dergen brought this upon them, as did the Lagania." Lozni replied firmly. "You are no more to blame than us and they all know of how you sacrificed yourself for them."