Epilogue
Three days later…
“The rumors are true, then,” Arya murmured as their group sat around a fire on the beach. “They’re building a new Shaldorn in the ocean.”
Nirav grunted in pain as he stretched out his legs and leaned back against a log. “It’s heavily guarded, too.”
“We barely got away,” Varum added.
Kalyani frowned at Nirav and then Varum. “You shouldn’t have been so reckless.”
“If they hadn’t, we wouldn’t have that information,” Ravi said.
She cut her eyes to him, but she knew the Sun Elf had a point.
“Not everyone visiting will be a Sea Elf. How are members going to get in?” Yasmin asked.
Varum rotated his shoulder, testing his wound. “They’re building a tunnel that connects it to a small island nearby. It’ll be the only way in or out for everyone but Sea Elves.”
“Did you happen to see a Moon Elf female?” Yaz asked.
Nirav shook his head. “There are only Sea Elves constructing it.”
“The original Shaldorn was nearly impossible to get into or out of. This one will be even harder,” Ravi murmured.
Varum grinned. “Good thing you have us.”
“If I was them, I’d make it so the tunnel collapsed,” Jai interjected.
Farah stirred the fire with a stick. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“We’re all at a disadvantage in the water,” Arya said.
Kalyani looked out at the waves. She wouldn’t let Nirav and Varum go by themselves. She would return to the sea and accept whether she changed again. Either way, she would do what needed to be done. “Then we find an advantage.”
“We need to let Durga know, and I’d like to check to see if Dain has regained consciousness,” Arya said as she got to her feet.
Jai stood with her and turned his gray eyes to first Varum and then Nirav. “You two should prepare. Durga will want to meet you.”
Then they were gone.
Kalyani slipped her hand into Varum’s. “I’ll be going with you.”
“Why would you need to do that?” Rohan demanded.
Farah rolled her eyes. “Sometimes, my love, you can be so dense.”
“What?” Rohan asked her. “It isn’t as if Varum won’t return.”
Kalyani exchanged a look with Varum. “We don’t want to be apart. Besides, I want to see Rannora.”
“Then it’s settled,” Varum said before Rohan could speak. “We go together.”
Kalyani leaned to the side and rested her head on his shoulder. Rohan put on a show, but she had seen him and Varum talking and laughing together. Their bond might take some time to grow. She didn’t mind, though. Both Varum and Nirav had a place in their growing family.
Varum leaned his head against hers as they listened to Farah telling a story about the first time Rohan tried to run across the tree limbs. Kalyani smiled, having heard the story before, but it made Nirav and Varum laugh.
The moment was one that everyone sitting around the fire treasured, because each of them knew just how precious time was when standing against the Masters’ evil.
Durga glared down at Dain, who had yet to wake. The two Healers she had rotated to heal his injuries said he should’ve woken already. The fact that he hadn’t made her worry that the poison used on him had done more damage than even the Star Elves could heal.
“You’ve been lying there for long enough,” she told Dain. “It’s time to open your eyes and tell me what happened. I need to know who attacked you.”
She looked over at what was left of his favorite coat. Most of the blood had been cleaned away, and skilled artisans had mended the numerous rips, tears, and burns caused during the battle. She had rushed everyone, wanting to ensure it was ready for him when he woke.
The coat had been saved, but his armor hadn’t been. He would likely be upset about that. Dain had few things he treasured. His coat, armor, and sword were it. She was having specially designed armor made for him now. It should be ready later that day.
All someone had to do was look at Dain’s face to know that he was a survivor. When others would crumble or break, he kept going. He didn’t know how to give in or give up. It was why she knew that he would eventually open his eyes. There was still work to be done.
There was a soft knock on the door, and Durga turned toward it as it cracked open to reveal one of her servants. “Arya and Jai have arrived.”
Durga nodded and glanced back at Dain. She had decided to keep him in her home. It was heavily fortified with both magic and guards. Yet only a handful knew the Dark was here. She had never trusted easily before, but now, she didn’t trust anyone except for Dain and those who fought with him.
She strode out of the room. Jai and Arya wouldn’t have returned so quickly if they didn’t have information.
One day, she would have what she needed to bring down the Masters for good.
She might be fighting the battles behind the scenes, but that was how she got things done.
She was just as willing to put her life on the line as Dain and the others were.
And it would take attacks aimed at the Masters from different sides to end them.
The door closed softly with a click as Dain opened his eyes.
Thank you for reading BURNING SEA.