Page 93 of In Darkness Forged
Sandric nodded. “I will not forget,” he said soberly. “But before I go, I wanted you to know that my father’s word will not stand. Your debt is forgiven, and the house your family calls home will be deeded to your name as soon as I can draw up the appropriate papers.”
Aislin reached out impulsively and clasped the young lord’s hand. “Thank you,” she whispered. “My mother and grandmother thank you as well. Know that we will help with rebuilding in whatever ways we can.” She dropped his hand and looked chagrined. “Not that there is much I can do, but…”
“I accept,” Sandric blurted out, shooting a brief glance at Tal. “Perhaps now is not the time to speak of it, but given your experience, I would like you to consider acting as my representative among the night elves in the future. To ensure a lasting peace along our stretch of the border.”
Aislin’s mouth fell open. “You want me to…”
“We will consider your request,” Tal interrupted, beginning to grow impatient with the young lord’s apparently inexhaustible supply of words. “But we have not slept or eaten in far too long, and there are many who await your orders.”
The new Lord of Brightvale straightened and looked Tal in the eye before bowing deeply. “I am grateful to you both,” he said. “This day’s evils could have been far worse, and I will not forget the lives saved by your restraint. If I can ever aid you in any way, do not hesitate to ask.”
And then he finally turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Aislin to gape after him and Tal to sigh in relief that they were finally alone.
“I think,” Aislin managed to say, “that I have had all the surprises I can manage for one day. And if I do not lie down soon, I will simply fall asleep on my feet, and you will have no choice but to carry me.”
“Is that supposed to frighten me?” Tal asked, snatching her off the ground before she could protest.
“No, it was meant to encourage you,” she admitted with a tiny smile. “Did it work?”
His only answer was to hold her closer and stride away into the darkness, until they were far from the fire and the crowd and the worries of tomorrow. Like shadows in the night, they made their way beneath the trees to a hollow not far away, where Cuan waited.
There, they made a simple camp for perhaps the last time, bedding down with a dreadwolf for a pillow. But unlike every previous night, Tal lay next to Aislin and opened his arms. Without even a moment’s hesitation, she nestled into them, brushing her lips across his jaw in a gentle kiss before falling asleep—her head on his shoulder, her breath soft on his skin, her legs tangled with his.
Finally safe, finally at peace.
It might not last. Her family might hesitate to accept him, and he had yet to be properly introduced to her friends. There could still be panic and suspicion awaiting him, and Cuan would have to be convinced to behave himself among the humans’ livestock.
So many concerns remained, but whatever the morrow might bring, this was still the only place he wanted to be.
The wilding had found a home at last, and no power in existence could make him let it go again.
EPILOGUE
The softer shades of twilight were just settling over the village when Aislin left Old Man Eben’s, humming to herself as she reviewed the recipes she’d learned that day. Her official apprenticeship had only begun a few months ago, but already she felt as if her brain were full to bursting. There was so much to learn, and at her age, she was already behind.
For so long, she’d believed she would never have a place—never truly belong among the people of Brightvale. But now that the new Lord Dreichel had begun to make changes…
Something shoved her from behind, and Aislin nearly dropped her basket of herbs as she whirled to face her attacker.
“There are gentler ways to say hello,” she admonished, hands on her hips as she glared into unrepentant golden eyes. Cuan laughed at her with his lolling tongue and mouthful of terrifying fangs before butting her again with his head.
“Were you lonely today?” Aislin gave the dreadwolf a quick hug before turning and continuing along the path at a brisk walk. “Come with me, then. I’m sure he’ll be finishing up soon.”
It was late enough in spring that the snow had melted, but the paths were still quite muddy, so Aislin was paying more attention to her feet than to Cuan when they entered the village.
The sound of children screaming was her only warning before two small wild-eyed hellions came racing towards them.
“Wait, don’t touch…” But Aislin’s warning came far too late. Before the words were even uttered, Cuan was wearing a clinging two-year-old child around each extremely muddy front leg.
Ilsa was going tomurderher. The twins were difficult enough to manage, and now their clothes were as filthy as the faces that turned upwards towards Cuan, wide smiles showing clearly through the dirt.
“Doggy!” Little Petra’s eyes closed in rapture as she pressed her cheek against the dreadwolf’s enormous foreleg.
“Woof,” her brother corrected importantly, grasping Cuan’s fur and yanking in imperious demand.
Cuan looked at Aislin, and she could have sworn he rolled his eyes before collapsing onto his side in the middle of the village square. The twins proceeded to clamber up onto his back with squeals of delight, ready for a ride on their favorite “horsey.”
While Tal and Cuan had both met with their share of suspicion, it had been the children who bridged that initial gap with their curiosity and uncomplicated glee at Cuan’s size. Aislin had been concerned for their safety at first, but Cuan had shown an almost uncanny ability to know what was needed and done nothing that could be interpreted as a threat. He almost seemed to enjoy his new role as a babysitter, and treated the village children as his particular responsibility.