Epilogue
The book closed. Dieve removed her spectacles from her nose, smiling down at the child that was scowling up at her from the rug upon which she sat.
Her white hair fell down her shoulders, spilling out around her on the floor.
Her bright blue eyes were narrowed, her face pinched together in complete disapproval.
“That’s it?” The girl exclaimed, throwing her small dimpled hands up into the air. “So, all of that and they just have to wait and see what happens? Follow the damn wind?”
Dieve chuckled, joints popping as she pushed herself up from her rocking chair.
“You shouldn’t say things like that. What would your parents think, hearing you speak in such a way?
” Though meant to be a reprimand, there was not a single note that sounded scolding.
“To answer your question, yes. We shall wait and see what happens. Rather exciting, isn’t it? ”
“Aren’t you supposed to know these things?” The girl demanded, quickly shuffling to her feet and following the crone out into the hall. “You are the Goddess of Fate. You should know when these things are going to happen and to whom, right?”
They stilled as they drew closer to the top of the stairs. Down below, the door to the palace opened.
It had been weeks. Weeks of them searching.
Weeks of them being away, leaving her in the care of the old witch that was now hobbling in their direction.
The little girl wanted to be angry about such an abrupt end to her nighttime tale, but she could not hold back the smile that took over her face the moment their eyes flickered in her direction.
Tears welled up in her eyes, her cheeks turning pink with joy as she started towards them.
She threw herself into their outstretched arms, squealing with joy as her father swept her up and cradled her against his chest. The scent of cherry blossoms filled her nose, soothing the deep-seeded dread she’d felt in their absence.
Her mother held her hands, placing feather-light kisses along her dimpled knuckles, both of them giggling as their foreheads touched.
“You’re supposed to be in bed, my little queen.” Her father laughed.
“It seems as though the queen has decided to determine when and where she chooses to take her rest,” Dieve smiled, patting her father on the shoulder. Aziel turned his head to the old woman, those three long scars glowing silver in the dim light. “She also has decided that she is now fit to swear.”
Aziel slowly cut his eyes in the little girl’s direction, very clearly holding back a grin. “Eadyn Lilith Haze.” The pink of her cheeks burned bright red, her hands coming up to cover a toothless smile.
Her mother cleared her throat. “I’d say that her first three decisions as queen are far less harmless than mine were.
” She shrugged. “Every girl should be able to decide how and when they go to sleep, as well as the words they say.” Eadyn grinned at her, scrambling out of Aziel’s arms, only to climb into her mother’s.
“But,” Nymiria continued. “She is not queen yet. Therefore, I declare that Princess Eadyn Lilith Haze is to go to sleep at exactly eight, in the safety of her room, and there should be no swearing unless absolutely necessary.”
Aziel’s brow arched in her direction, “Unless absolutely necessary?”
Nymiria nodded, already heading towards the stairs with their daughter in her arms. The little girl peaked over her mother’s shoulder, sticking out her tongue at the old crone.
In her hands was the tíortha, attached to her mother’s neck by a leather cord.
The young girl twirled it around, running her fingers over its smooth edges.
He couldn’t remember ever having felt or expressed such joy at the age Eadyn was now.
He’d never smiled quite as bright, never laughed quite as loud.
He’d never been quite as daring in all of his thirty-three years as she had been in merely seven.
But he was glad. Glad that she had a mother that loved her.
Glad that she had a father that would go to the ends of the earth to ensure that both of them were safe.
Perhaps fate hadn’t been too kind to him in the beginning, but this ending…
This happiness had been worth every moment.
When he finally turned to Dieve again, the woman was watching him with a knowing look that he recognized all too well.
He didn’t hate the goddess, by any means, but he absolutely detested those cryptic looks and her nonsensical riddles.
His stomach felt hollow, his brow drawing together. “What is it now?” He almost groaned.
Dieve only grinned. “Oh, nothing bad. Nothing bad at all. But I have finally seen her path…”
“I don’t want to know—”
“You need to. It is very important that you are not blindsided about the information I am about to share with you. See this as me making amends with you, Aziel. Your daughter… she is a very powerful child. One that should be educated properly.”
His heart rate accelerated, his body warming with a protective anger that made him clench his hands. “What are you talking about?” He snapped.
Dieve placed a wrinkled hand upon his shoulder, her smile turning rather sentimental. “She is the next Witch Queen, darling. The most powerful one I have ever met and I have met plenty.”
He never thought that he would hear the words Witch Queen again.
When Inasha died, he half-hoped that there wouldn’t be another born until he was dead and entombed deep in the belly of the earth.
Hearing it now, it didn’t sound so terrifying.
Not when he thought of his young daughter and all of the joy and happiness she’d been raised in.
He didn’t think for one second that history would repeat itself.
Convincing Nymiria of that, as protective as she was of their girl, would be a different challenge.
“She is strong, Aziel. And not just in power, but in spirit. She is strong-willed and entirely her own person. You have and will do a good job raising her. But…”
“But what?”
“Quite a trouble-maker,” Dieve laughed. “Think of her mother’s impulsive behaviors, only tenfold. And her mate—”
“She’s seven. I don’t want to hear about her mate.” He prepared to walk away, but Dieve’s gnarled fingers pulled at his sleeve.
“I’m not telling you this to scare you, young man.
I am telling you this to prepare you for what is to come.
Eadyn needs to be trained properly and she needs a proper upbringing.
I know that you and Nymiria are trying to do the right thing by searching for the person who will take her place in death, but your daughter needs you both.
” She said quickly, quietly. “You have time to search for that person, but you will never get back this time with your daughter. Be here.”
Aziel let her words steep, let them ruminate until his defenses fell.
He had no reason to be angry with her—not when she was merely trying to steer them in the right direction.
He nodded slowly, glancing at the stairs when two melodic laughs started echoing through the palace.
“Alright,” he agreed. “I’ll speak with Nymiria, then. ”
The crone gave him a smile, reaching up to lightly pat his cheek before she turned and made her way towards the door. “What a lineage.” She mumbled, shaking her head. “What a lineage, indeed. The world will never be the same when the two of them collide.”
His brow furrowed. “Dieve…”
“Oh, don’t listen to me. Just talking to myself, is all.” She laughed. And with a flicker of silver light, Dieve simply vanished.
THE END