Tyrian woke a few days later to a restless feeling inside his soul. For the first time, he didn't bother to rein it in. The world was his to explore. There were things to do first, but there were no longer any chains binding him. No war to be fought. No fear for his friends, no fear for the people.
He glanced to the side, yet he had known the moment he woke that Cassie was not there. He knew she was not far away, and he was fairly sure he knew where she was and what she was doing. He smiled. It was a comforting feeling to have someone who knew him so well. He would never get away with anything, but he had his own ways of dealing with his stubborn Kentei wife.
For the last time, he got out of bed and got dressed. Most everything had already been packed. He walked over to the door and then glanced back at the room. He had been promised that it would always be cared for so that he could come back at any time. The same promise had been made for his home in Trinan. When he was ready to rest from travels, there would be a place for him.
He took the elevator down to the courtyard, went into the castle, and headed for the meeting room. The guards opened the doors for him, and when he walked inside, he saw Ewan, Kyle, Leonard, the Lower Generals, and Cherry . . . but no Matthias. "I see," he said softly. He had wondered. When he had gone to bed the night before, he had seen one of the stars in the sky flickering rapidly as if to go out.
Cherry's lips trembled but she managed to smile. "He made the end of the war. That was what he wanted. And he . . . didn't want to say goodbye to you because that means you'll never see him again." Vincent wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she gulped back her tears. "He was smiling."
"As he should be," Tyrian said simply. "He did a lot of great things, and his legacy lives on in you." He leaned against the table. "I'm preparing to leave," he announced calmly. "I'm going to take Divan home to his family. Cassie is going with me. For now, Raven will stay with her grandparents. When we come back for Liang and Serentia's wedding, we'll pick Raven up to travel with us."
No one was surprised by the news. Tyrian and Cassie had married the day before to an immense celebration that had doubled as an end-of-war party. They were combining their honeymoon trip with the journey to Foresalia, and that was why their daughter would be staying behind for a few months. Raven didn't mind; she was learning all kinds of fun things from Tamari. The recently promoted Dragonist Tamari, no less. She and Squint were formally partners, and Ryu and Celestial had started training them.
"I wish you'd reconsider leading," Leonard said. "I am honored that I've been chosen to be the first president of our republic, but the position is rightfully yours."
"I don't want it." Tyrian smiled as he said it. "I was planning to put you in charge all along, Leo. What're we naming our republic anyway?" He laughed, and the sound grabbed at everyone's hearts. They had heard him laugh more in the last few days than they had over the last year. "I want you in charge to take that issue off my hands too."
"We've decided on the Republic of Taron." Marcus grinned. "It's a blend of your name and Aon Castle, so you're not getting out of the issue entirely."
"That I can handle." Tyrian looked at Leonard. "Since you're now in charge of the country, I have a request for you, President. Something only someone of your position or higher can do: I want Kyle and Ewan knighted."
"What!" Ewan almost yelped.
"No, really, that's okay!" Kyle protested hastily. "Really, Tyrian. It's appreciated but not needed."
Tyrian arched a brow. "It's not? I seem to recall that either extensive years of experience or 'extreme acts of heroism and bravery' are sufficient for knighting, and you two have done more than your share of those. You were there by my side from the beginning and more than once you two saved my sanity. You two suffered more than any and you continued to push forward. In the middle of a falling castle, you detoured to save innocent lives. You've earned the right to be seen with the highest of honor from more than the Commune of Soldiers."
"Okay, fine." Ewan crossed his arms. "But if you want us knighted, you have to do it yourself. And you can't do it unless you're in charge. So I guess it won't happen."
Tyrian sighed. Really, didn't they know him better than that? He looked at Leonard. "I want to be in charge."
Leonard was grinning outright and so were the Generals. "Okay, you're in charge."
"Damn you," Kyle muttered.
"Give me your swords." Tyrian held out his hand. "Come on."
Still muttering under their breath, the two swordsmen drew their swords and held them out. Tradition stated that a swordsman could only be knighted with their own sword. If they had known this would happen, they would have hidden their swords. Night, though, was tickled by the entire thing. "I've never knighted anyone."
"So glad you're enjoying things," Ewan told him in annoyance. "I don't want to be knighted. It's a pain in the ass."
"Shut up, Ewan." Tyrian lightly touched his heart with the tip of Night. "For acts of heroism and bravery, for the risk of life to ensure the safety of innocents, let it be known you have been given the highest of honors, Sir Ewan Grizmar. Let it be acknowledged."
"So acknowledged," the Lower Generals chorused.
Tyrian handed Night back to Ewan and then lightly touched Kyle's heart with the tip of Ophelia. "For acts of heroism and bravery, for the risk of life to ensure the safety of innocents, let it be known you have been given the highest of honors, Sir Kyle Raitels. Let it be acknowledged." He handed the sword back over as that too was acknowledged. "There we go." He looked at Leonard. "You're in charge again."
"Why, thank you. Anyone else you want knighted, since we're on the subject?"
"I can think of one. I also think she would make a perfect High General. Let me know if she balks. I'll come back and be President for a day again."
Ewan suddenly laughed and grabbed Tyrian in a headlock. "I wish I could hate you for that." He hugged him for a moment and then let go. "You'd better visit," he said gruffly. "It'd be boring not to see your face around. Maybe our paths will cross again. Kyle and I are headed out to the City-States."
"Taking Night with you?"
"Yes," Night said.
"No," Ewan said.
Tyrian winced. "Okay, I'm not staying for that fight." He glanced at Marcus. "When you and Marian are ready to marry, let me know. I'll drop everything and come back for it."
"Of course," Marcus said.
A sound at the window made everyone turn, and they smiled to see Amos flying past with Sierra to judge where to put her new stained glass. It was freshly made, depicting images of the final battle. When they all turned back to where Tyrian had been, none of them were surprised to see that he had slipped out.
They moved over to the window as a group and watched as Tyrian crossed the courtyard toward the stables. They wanted to stop him because they were all going to miss him madly, but they loved him enough to let him go. He had earned his freedom, perhaps more than any other in Taron had. "Goodbye, Tyrian," Di murmured.
"Not goodbye." Cherry smiled at her. "It's 'see you again.'"
"Right you are." Di rested her head on Alex's shoulder. "Right you are."
When Tyrian walked into the stables, he found Cassie attaching the supply packs to her horse. Fay was already saddled, and both horses were ready to be hitched to the wagon they would pull. The wagon was specially made to transport the deceased, and it would be in that wagon that Divan would make his final journey. "I hope he won't be offended to be traveling with newlyweds," Tyrian said teasingly.
Cassie smiled at him. She wanted to laugh and to dance with the happiness of the last few days. She had lost count of the times he had smiled and laughed. She couldn't even name all the ways that he had shown them all that, finally, he was whole. They would never again worry that he might break. "I'm sure he'll forgive us."
They took the horses outside and hitched them to the wagon. Flowers and tokens asking for a safe rebirth were all over the casket that held Divan. He had come from Foresalia, but he had died a champion of Taron. No one would forget his bravery.
Dozens turned out to watch Tyrian and Cassie leave, and children chased after them down the road to throw flowers and confetti. When finally the castle had disappeared into the distance behind them, Tyrian took a deep breath. Even the air seemed freer. "I'd like to say I've never been happier," he said softly, "but I have."
"Do tell."
He smiled at her. "When you were finally mine. That moment was my happiest." Her eyes softened, and he leaned over to kiss her when he suddenly sensed a familiar presence. He straightened and stopped their horses just as lavender light appeared and heralded Tanelia. Though there still lurked an eternal sadness in her eyes, it seemed as if her burdens had lightened some. "It's done," he told her simply.
"It has only begun," she countered softly. "The prophecy you would not read. I will tell you now. There will be three Kaiten Stars. Two more wait on the horizon. A war for sanity will rise next. In the future beyond that time, there will be a war to end wars. A war for the peace of the world. As you realized already, Cassie's star is fixed. She will follow these two Kaiten Stars. They will need you too, Tyrian."
"Is that the future Ophelia died for?" Tyrian asked.
"It is. When the third arrives, you will finally find the answers to the many questions I know you still have."
He considered his words and then said, "I suppose the most important thing I can offer my younger siblings is advice on how to handle their Kentei Stars."
Laughter suddenly lit Tanelia's twilight colored eyes. "Perhaps you should learn to handle yours first." With a swirl of light, she disappeared once more.
"That could take eternity," Cassie murmured. She laughed as Tyrian firmly reached over and lifted her onto the horse in front of him. She framed his face with her hands and knew she would never tire of having him there to have and hold. "Do you mind taking eternity to learn how to handle me?"
He rubbed his thumb over her cheek tenderly. "It'll be a difficult task, but I think I'm up to the challenge. Do you mind if I take my time?" His lips brushed hers.
She sighed happily. She had grown very, very fond of his patience. It was rewarding for both of them. "Take all the time you need."
All around them, the desert was hot and dry and dusty, but it was free from fear and oppression. Across the cities and towns that claimed to be part of the Republic of Taron, the Kaiten Star would be spoken of as a hero who had ended a war fraught with danger and pain and fear. Lives had been taken. Lives had been lost.
Yet, even in the darkest moments, it had been a war filled with love. The love of one hundred and nine stars who shared the skies. The love of a general's son for his land and his people. And the love of two souls born under the Kaiten and Kentei Stars. No one would ever forget their destiny.
No one would ever forget their story.
©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.
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