Epilogue

Goll

I couldn't take my eyes off him. After two full months, I was still helplessly enamored with our newborn son. His complexion was a paler gray than mine, and he had no wings. I could see the tiny nubs of his first two horns beneath the skin and cap of black hair.

But his eyes. They came from his mother—a bright indigo, like the color of twilight at the edge of night. His pupils were slit vertically like mine and a tiny core of gold encircled them. There was also a lock of silver-white hair streaking through the black on one side.

He gurgled, reaching his chubby hand up. I let him grab my finger. When he squeezed, I felt it all the way to my heart.

"Strong little grip, Malcus."

He cooed as if he understood me. Rising from the window seat of our bedchamber at Windolek, I told him, "Let's go find your mother." Though I was sure I knew where she was.

Taking the spiral staircase in the corridor, I climbed up to the battlement, and there she was, overlooking the eastern field of wildflowers now in full bloom. Malcus had been born at the height of spring, and now the wildflowers bloomed in bright profusion around the entirety of Windolek.

Pullo and Stanos stood nearby at attention. Stanos was one of the newest members of the Kel Klyss. We'd needed to recruit following our return and after our losses on our journey. Stanos was haughty and young. I'd put Pullo in charge of teaching him the ropes of the Culled in the hope that a new purpose might help him after the loss of Tierzel. Apparently, I'd been right since the two of them had been seen carousing in Belladum every night they had off.

While I wasn't sure Pullo drowning his sorrows in wenches and ale was the best solution, it was better than him moping in guilt all alone every night. For that was what Keffa had told me he'd been doing after we returned to N?kt Mir. He'd thought it was his fault for not seeing the traitor amongst us.

I'd told him that the fault was all mine. But he rejected my words and refused to accept my apology, saying it wasn't my fault that evil had rooted itself in what should have been my loyal guard. I'd told him it was not his either. Shortly after, the new recruits joined us, and Pullo had finally begun to break out of his deep mourning.

I gave them a nod as I passed where they stood guard, close enough to handle a threat, but far enough for privacy.

When we left Valla Lokkyr on our journey to heal the fae afflicted with the plague, Pullo had fallen into the role of guardian to the new Queen of Northgall. He hadn't asked, but simply took ownership of her safety. Then he roped in his newest friend, Stanos. I'd simply given him a nod of approval. The Kel Klyss were all as devoted to their queen as they were to me. Their allegiance and loyalty warmed my soul.

"I knew I'd find you here," I said, standing beside her.

Her gaze instantly went to her son, a smile curling her mouth. "Let me have him."

He thrashed his arms at the sight of his mother, trying to get to her. I smiled, knowing that feeling very well. I handed him over and then wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling them both close.

She wrapped the blanket more tightly and tucked him close, his mouth opening like it was feeding time. "He can't be hungry already."

"I believe he can. He eats like a little monster."

"Like a dragon," she corrected.

But Malcus seemed content at the moment, staring up at his beautiful mother with nothing but adoration in his dark violet eyes. I glanced out at the blooming field, the wind gusting the tall wildflowers in a soft breeze.

"I'm happy you wanted to come here," I told her. "I wasn't sure you'd ever want to return here again."

"I didn't want that to be my last memory of this place."

She cradled Malcus while he wrapped a tight fist around her finger. He seemed to always be grabbing for things. I'd have to watch him carefully as he grew.

"I didn't either," I agreed softly, pressing my lips to her hair.

"This was your mother's sanctuary and home. I wanted that spirit to remain here."

I'd ensured that any trace of the wights or of Ferryn had been well-cleaned before we arrived. I'd also hired new servants, and they'd put the castle back to rights, cleaning and dusting the halls until they were sparkling like new. New linens, drapes, bedding, and rugs had restored it to its early glory.

But even so, there might have been a lingering of the evil energy of what had happened here before. When Drak had delivered us here that first day, I'd waited to see if Una felt it still living here. But she'd only looked up at me with joy before she greeted her smiling housekeeper, a wood fae who'd been living in the Borderlands and leaped at the opportunity to run the house for the moon fae queen.

My wife had ensured there was a mixture of both dark and light fae working in harmony at Windolek. She'd told me she wanted to show the world that we could all live in happiness together. And so far, she'd been right.

We realized quickly she wouldn't be able to heal every person with the plague one by one, but she'd infused the moon vessels—those expensive healing instruments created in Issos—with her healing energy. Then we sent the Culled out to every village across Lumeria, delivering the healing orbs.

That alone had taken much of her energy, but she was able to rest and replenish at N?kt Mir. She'd spent her days filling vessels, and we'd spent our evenings taking walks in Esher Wood. Until one night, she looked up at me beneath the moonlight, her hand on her full, rounded belly and said, "It's time to go to Windolek. Our child is coming."

Malcus gurgled again when I peered over his mother's shoulder at him. "He's a happy child."

"Of course, he is." She kissed him between the two horn nubs on his forehead. "He is well loved, and he knows it."

"He'll be ridiculously spoiled. Keffa, and even Soryn, can't seem to stop wanting to hold him."

"None of the Culled can." Una laughed. "Not to mention Hava."

"Hava," I repeated with a sigh. "Gods save us. I believe she's obsessed."

She laughed again. "Look at him. Can you blame her? He's so handsome. Aren't you?" she asked the little bundle. "I think she may want one of her own."

"Hava?" I tried to imagine it. "She doesn't even have a mate."

Una arched a brow up at me. "She has her eye on someone, though."

"Who?" I asked, trying to remember if I'd seen her with anyone.

"Keffa." Una grinned.

"No." I laughed. "That can't be."

"Look at the way she watches him. And I've seen Keffa give her a few lingering looks as well."

Keffa had doted on Hava ever since Ferryn had knocked her out. I thought it was simply his natural inclination to protect. Perhaps I was wrong.

"It would be good for him," I admitted.

"And her," added Una. "I think the fields below would make a beautiful site for a ceremony," said Una, pointing with a finger now that Malcus had let it go, his eyes blinking sleepily. "Right down there at sunset would be perfect. Oh, look at that little blue bird teasing Drakmir." She laughed.

Drak had taken up permanent residence in the purple fields, seeming to not want to leave Una's side since the incident with Ferryn. I smiled down at the bird flitting around his head. He huffed a breath, and the tiny creature dodged and dove sharply, pecking him on the snout. He rumbled a growl in warning.

I squinted at the creature. "I don't think that's a bird."

"It's coming this way."

On instinct, I stepped in front of Una and Malcus, deeming anything a threat until I was sure it was not. The tiny blue creature zipped straight up for us and only slowed when I raised my palm, ready to shoot it down with feyfire if it attacked.

It flapped its wings to float in place in front of us. It was a wood sprite. Her miniature feminine form was covered in downy feathers up over her breasts, her feet ending in sharp black talons. Instead of arms, she had bird-like wings, tipped black, and her feather-capped head had wispy feathers that curled at the neck. Her round black eyes shone with bright intelligence.

"Hello," said Una.

She had a sense for things now since she'd swallowed the gods' magick. She could feel when a creature was good or evil. I relaxed since she seemed at ease.

"Greetings, pretty queen," the sprite said in common demon tongue, "and deadly king." She blinked those round, black eyes at me. "I am Gwendazelle."

"What business do you have here, sprite?"

She dipped a curtsy midair, reminding me of those water sprites at Dragul Falls. Thank the gods, she was much more even-tempered.

"My master bid me come to you."

"And who is your master?" I asked sharply, needing to know who had sent this strange messenger rather than an emissary.

"Lord Vallon of House Hennowyn."

The shadow fae priest.

"What message does your master send?" asked Una.

"He would like permission to visit you here at Windolek Castle. He knows you are protective of your queen and the wee one, so he sends me ahead."

"He could've come himself and presented at the gate," I told her.

She squeaked and blinked her dark eyes. "No, no. He has a hostage with him. He must be certain. And..." She flew closer and whispered, "He wants you to keep it a secret."

"From whom?" I asked.

"From Prince Torvyn, of course."

Very strange. He was entirely devoted to his prince.Or, at least, he had been.

"And who is this hostage?" asked Una, concern in her voice.

The wood sprite blinked those dark eyes, as if wondering if she should tell us. Then she finally answered, "I cannot say. But she's very, very pretty. And nice, too," she added as an afterthought.

"Tell them to come right away," Una said before I could.

Gwendazelle chirped then zipped away in a southeasterly direction, away from the Solgavia Mountains. He must not be in Gadlizel with his hostage then.

"What in all the world could that be about?" asked Una. "And the loyal Vallon hiding a hostage from the shadow fae prince? A female?"

"Indeed." I looked toward the peaks of the Solgavia Mountains where a storm gathered, black clouds billowing. "Let's get you both inside. And prepare for our visitor."

"Visitors, plural, you mean," Una added."I wonder what Vallon is up to."

"I suppose we'll know soon enough."

A foreboding washed over me as I wrapped an arm around Una and guided her along the battlement. Pullo and Stanos followed behind us. Right as we took our first steps down the stairwell, a rumble of thunder followed us, warning of the coming storm.

Thank you for reading book 1 in THE RISE OF NORTHGALL. For a sneak peek into the novella set in this same world, KINGS AND BONES, click to the next page.