Epilogue
Brighton, Sussex
The brown pebble beach didn’t bother his feet like it used to.
He’d learned to walk on it since he’d spent the past several months here, letting a little cottage in the sleepy fishing village of Brighton and coming out to the beach every single day to fish for mackerel or anything else he could catch.
At first, it had been difficult for him to focus on the art of relaxation, but he learned to settle down soon enough.
No battles, wars, intrigue, or spying.
It was the first time since childhood that he had known peace.
Perhaps not complete peace, but at least he wasn’t making himself ill any longer. That had gone on for months, unable to eat and drinking excessively. He’d literally made himself ill every single night and then every day, it would start all over again.
It was the cycle his life had become.
Sean had finally made him go to Brighton.
When he’d left Juliandra in Wales and he’d refused to stay to Wybren, he put Gareth in command of the fortress and headed back to Trelystan where he had proceeded to turn into a moody, angry, bitter man.
Kevin had never been the unemotional type and when word reached his brother that he was still not himself, Sean had summoned him to Lansdown, whereupon he had forced Kevin to take a trip to get away from the Marches and learn to deal with the unexpected thing his life had become.
At first, Kevin had refused to go anywhere.
But eventually, Sean and his wife, Sheridan, broke him down and sent him off to Brighton because both Kevin and Sean had fond memories of the place, and Sean had decided that was the place for him to go.
Quite literally, he had escorted Kevin to the brown, rocky shores of Brighton and found him a little cottage to let.
Sean had remained with him at first and they had enjoyed peace and relaxation as they had never before enjoyed in their adult lives.
It was just the two of them sitting in the sand, fishing, having absolutely nothing to do but talk and fish.
Brothers bonding as they had never bonded before.
But eventually, Sean had to return home, leaving Kevin alone to enjoy the sunshine.
And here he was.
It was a warm day in late summer as a brisk sea breeze blew off of water the color of a pale blue gemstone that Kevin once saw a woman wear in London.
It was a bright, rich color. Overhead, gulls gathered because when he caught a fish, he usually threw it back and they would dive in to gobble it up.
But they had to fight the dog for it.
About ten feet to his right, a big, black dog lay in the sand, waiting for the next fish to be tossed.
The stray dog had found Kevin and Sean on their first few days in Brighton and now was Kevin’s constant companion.
He’d named it Ax because it was dark like a steel blade and had a big, wide head, so Ax followed Kevin around every moment of the day and slept at his feet a night. He was a good watchdog, too.
As Ax dozed in the sun, Kevin shifted positions on the sand, wincing when the wound Aeron had given him in his left thigh pained him.
It was only now starting to heal correctly after having become poisoned for quite some time.
When Aeron had stabbed him, he’d driven leather and fabric and mail into the wound, and it had festered repeatedly until a physic in Brighton had managed to clean it all out and sew it up tightly.
Then, and only then, had it started to heal.
But it was inevitable that the pain in his leg should remind him of the last time he saw Juliandra.
Every time he moved that leg and felt the ache, he thought of her.
But the pain in his leg was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.
As he lay back on the sand and felt the warmth of the sun beating down on him, he thought of that final day.
He relived it quite often.
He thought of carrying Gethin’s body down into the cellar as the servants directed him because Juliandra was nowhere to be found. He thought of the ride back to Wybren with Sean and Alexander and William, silent companions who stood strong alongside their beaten friend.
He thought of his return to Wybren and the days that followed, when Alexander and Peter and William eventually left to return to their respective homes, but not without words of encouragement to Kevin, who hadn’t been so wounded that he hadn’t appreciated their fond farewells.
William had even offered to give him the black stallion that no one could seem to ride, but Kevin had declined, not wanting to give the young man a place to offload the ill-gotten horse.
He intended to let the squire, with the gambler’s heart and the soul of a warrior, suffer his punishment for his little nasty habit.
He would reap what he sowed.
Sean had remained with him until such time as he had decided to return to Trelystan because he was unable to stand the memories of Wybren.
Gareth had been more than happy to assume command and, along with Cal, remained at Wybren while Kevin traveled back to Trelystan with Sean and Bannon.
Even now, it was Bannon in command of Trelystan while Kevin lay in the sun and tried to piece together what was left of his heart and his life.
As he lay there and pondered what his life had become, he heard Ax growling. Turning his head, he peeped an eye open to see what the dog was growling at only to see a shadow fall over him.
He was up in a flash.
Prepared to fight, he was astonished to see Sean standing behind him, smiling broadly. He lowered his balled fists.
“Sean,” he gasped in surprise. “What in the hell are you doing here? Why did you not send me word that you were coming?”
Sean laughed softly as Kevin reached out to embrace him. “Because I thought you could use the excitement of an unexpected visit,” he said. “Brighton can be rather dull.”
Kevin nodded. “Dull, but not unpleasant,” he said. “I have not suffered overly over the past few months.”
Sean looked him up and down, getting a good look at his brother who was leaner than he normally was, with skin as brown as leather from sun exposure day after day. His normally cropped hair was long, nearly to his chin, and he had a beard that covered his cheeks and jaw.
It didn’t look like the brother he knew.
This was a newer, different man.
“You are looking well,” he said after a moment. “How have you been since I last saw you?”
Kevin shrugged. “Well enough,” he said. “I spend my days fishing and my nights with that ugly dog sleeping at my feet.”
The both looked over to Ax, who wagged his tail at them. Sean chuckled. “Charming,” he said drolly. “But surely you’ve done more than pass the hours with only fishing.”
Kevin turned to look at the small fishing village about a quarter of a mile away. “There is a tavern in town,” he said. “The creatures that crawl in and out of there make me homesick for The Pox. Speaking of The Pox, how is everyone? Sherry and Peter and Chris and the like?”
Sean nodded. “Well, all of them,” he said. “But Edward de Wolfe has sent young William to the north, to a place called Northwood Castle. That place is one of the great castles in the north, one of the only things that stands between England and the Scots overrunning the country.”
Kevin was surprised to hear that. “Is that so?” he said. “I am surprised that Edward sent his favorite son so far away.”
Sean grunted. “Apparently, William has been caught gambling one too many times, so Edward is sending him far to the north to battle Scots. That should keep him occupied so he has no more time for his life of thievery.”
Kevin laughed softly. “It was bound to happen sometime.”
“True.” Sean’s gaze lingered on him a moment. “How are you really doing, Kevin?”
Kevin knew what he meant. His smile faded. “I am existing.”
“Have you found peace?”
Kevin shook his head before the words were fully out of Sean’s mouth. “Nay,” he said. “But I have resigned myself to that. It does not trouble me like it used to. But I will admit that I wish… I wish I could see Juliandra again. I hope she is doing well.”
Sean’s gaze moved over Kevin’s head, down the beach behind him. He was focused on something. “Why don’t you ask her?”
Kevin looked at him queerly. “Ask her? Nay, Sean, I do not intend to send her a missive. It would be ripping a scab off a fresh wound.”
Sean pointed down the beach. “You do not have to send her a missive. You can ask her now.”
Kevin stared at him a moment before whirling around to see what Sean was pointing at.
He could see a lone figure walking down the beach towards them, a woman dressed in a pale green gown that was blowing fiercely in the wind.
Her long hair was braided, draped over one shoulder, but tendrils were blowing about her face.
He knew that face.
He knew that magnificent hair.
Juliandra was approaching.
When Kevin realized that, he almost forgot to breathe. He started to feel lightheaded and realized it was because he was holding his breath. Then, his breathing quickened. His heart was pounding so hard that he could hear it in his ears.
God, is it true?
“Sean,” he murmured. “What is she…? I do not understand. Why is she here?”
Sean had a smile on his face. “She asked me to bring her to you,” he said. “She sent me a missive a couple of months ago and Gareth brought her to Lansdown. Dani likes her a great deal, by the way. She and Juliandra have become fast friends. She wants to talk to you, Kevin.”
Kevin genuinely thought he might become ill. “I do not know if I can,” he murmured. “I do not want to hear…”
Sean cut him off. “Hear her,” he said, more firmly. “She has come a very long way to see you. You saved my life once, Kevin… do you recall? At the battle of the Tower of London? Now, I am going to save yours. Talk to her.”