Page 80 of Her Royal Blood

“Well that’s a good thing, because I’ve already brought over all of my things, but if you think that I’m going to sit back and be pampered, well you don’t know your ol’ Nan very well.”Everyone laughed. “Besides, I’m expecting plenty of babies to keep me busy.” She winked and Lex and I burst into laughter.

“Well, we’ll do our best Nan, that I can promise.” There was more laughter around the room and my heart swelled again.

Babies…our children. One day Lex and I would be parents. I marveled at the thought.

“If you will, Your Highness, I would like to go to Brahman’s Peak and work with the surrendered Crypt Claw after they return from Vitoria Island to rebuild the city. I know the citizens there and everyone who fought with me pledged their loyalty. I’d like to see the city reestablished and the good families that have been oppressed for years, given adequate food and shelter.” He bowed low as if this was his request of me.

“I think that is a noble undertaking, Hawk, and now that Brahman’s Peak will fall under our jurisdiction, I would love to see it restored to health and prosperity.” I nodded to him. “You may leave whenever you want.”

“And Father,” Janaya blurted out. “I want to go with him, as a diplomat, so that I might speak to the people and discover what they need. It’s too big a job for one person to take on.” She turned to smile at him and the smile he gave her in return was a little disarming.

By their closeness and familiarity I knew for a fact they had gotten together and were already inseparable which was confirmed by Hawk’s enthusiastic support of Janaya’s plan.

“You had better stay far away from my sister,” Lex jumped in and warned, but with a smile.

He wasn’t so scary when he was smiling.

“I’m afraid that won’t happen.” Hawk put his arm around Janaya. “But I will take care of her as well as you do your wife. That is a promise.” Lex glared at Hawk which made everyone laugh.

“I hope he isn’t as strict with his own daughters as he is with his sister,” King Helix said, also laughing.

“You’d be worse,” Queen Delia added. “If it wasn’t a man like Hawk courting your daughter.” She looked over to Janaya who was beaming with joy. “All I want is to see my children happy.” Her eyes moved to Cheyenne who was radiating with happiness as he enjoyed Halo’s attention, me who smiled at Lex, and Janaya, who gave her mother a look that said, ‘finally.’

Dinner was eventually served and the conversations started to include everyone at the table as we discussed how the kingdoms of Tobran could become stronger together. Bastien offered that Angeline Falls would become a place for rest and relaxation for the Royals and their citizens as it always had been but he wanted to make sure and extend an offer to the Royals and the heads of the armies for special relaxation packages that would replenish their magic and their strength.

Laura Goldlace offered to join Hawk and Janaya in Brahman's Peak to lend her expertise in building businesses to bolster their economy.

“We’re going to pay you handsomely for all you’ve given us,” Halo told her sister, likely wary of what Lara was planning.

“I want to show you that I can run a legitimate business. I’m done with living on the edge. I want respectable work. I know how to run large scale operations and Hawk is going to need to make Brahman’s Peak prosperous again after living for so many years under Polonius’ tyranny. Let me prove to you all what I can do.” Lara looked around the room and she was met with eager affirmations of her worth and potential.

“Then I’ll be proud to see the great work you’ll be able to do,” Halo commented.

“As for me, I’d like to open a mage school here in Onyx Rah for any mage child that needs education and training.” She sat up straighter, having stated her desire for Tobran.

Xavier Gold Lace offered for the Obsidian Valley to continue to be a midpoint of commerce and trade between the two farthest points of Tobran. And I suggested that the Royal Guards for both Navarrah City and Onyx Rah train between our two kingdoms so that they could learn to traverse the terrain in all areas of Tobran in the event that we would need to present a united front again in the future.

“And I would like to open the training up to women,” I added.

“I agree,” King Lex said, giving me a warm smile.

“And I want to return to Navarrah City and take up residence as a mage again,” Amadeus regarded King Helix, as if he needed to ask his permission.

“We would be grateful to have you return, Amadeus, always.” King Helix offered the assurances Amadeus needed.

“Amadeus,” Queen Nadine asked. “I personally invite you to come to Angeline Falls whenever it is convenient and enjoy our rejuvenating waters and spend some time recovering. What Polonius did to you was traumatizing and I’m offering you my help. It is the least I can do to say thank you for saving us all.” What Queen Nadine’s eyes said, was something much different than she was offering.

She had a fondness for Amadeus, and finally she was allowing it to show. Would there be a possibility that he could fall in love again? What if I have little siblings one day to play with my own children? The possibilities were endless.

“I’ve learned one thing in all my years,” King Helix said as he took his wife’s hand. “Do not pass up the offer to spend time with a beautiful woman.”

And at that everyone at the table laughed. The dinner continued with laughter and happiness until the wee hours of the morning. We ate, drank and recounted stories, but more importantly we basked in our freedom and victory.

Just before dawn, Lara, Halo, Xavier, Bastien, Amadeus, Dimitri, and I, all converged on the Genesis pit. Standing before it we summoned the ghost of Harlance Goldlace And together we cast a spell of reconstruction and rejuvenation that repaired every hole, every burned building, every broken thing. We sent healing to all of those who were suffering their injuries and to the families that had been displaced.

Magic swirled around us with such great force that we could feel even our own injuries and traumas knitting ourselves back together making us whole again. By the time we were done Tobran was not only restored, but better than it ever had been. Despite the pain we had suffered and the trials we’d overcome, we had brought our world into a new era, one of unity, equity, and love.

Chapter 27

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