“There’s nothing to fear Thomas,” Anders said climbing down to the ground.  

“Did you ever decide?” Thomas asked him.  

“Decide what?” he replied. 

“If you were going to be King?” 

Anders combed his hand through his hair and glanced at the ground.  

“I take that as a no,” Thomas said.  

Anders nodded.  

“For what it’s worth, I think you would be a good king, but a better person if there were anyone else who would do as good a job as you.” Thomas watched his cousin slip into thought while Zahara carried him toward his sister.  

*** 

  “Over here!” the Rollo Island warrior called out.  

Britt followed the calls from the warriors and rounded the street corner. Her gaze fell to the body they were pulling from under the beast. Britt stood over Red’s mangled corpse. It was him, without a doubt. “Bring him back to the ships,” she said. “We’ll send him off as he would’ve wanted, like his father.”  

She helped them carry his large-framed body onto the cart of the dead they were hauling along the city streets. Raffagaun had agreed to incinerate any of the dead demons or creatures who they felt didn’t deserve a proper burial.  

Why didn’t he leave me to die? Red hated me. What caused him to throw his life away in exchange for mine? Britt wondered. The questions plagued her for the entire walk back toward their ships.  

***

In the days that followed their victory, all of those who were physically able to help return the city to a livable state pitched in as a united team. After the dragons burned the bodies of the dead enemies and the bodies of friends and loved ones were retrieved for funerals, all members of their armies worked on the town in a state of mixed emotion. Britt felt it more than most. She was joyful to have lived through the fight and to see their world saved from a most powerful evil, but she felt the deaths of friends weighing on her consciousness. Sanka, Red, and Evans’ deaths were blows to her mental well-being, but Bo was the hardest of them all to overcome.  

There had been little time for anyone to think of what their peoples would do next and how the outcome of this world war would affect their politics. Banding together against a common enemy had provided Britt’s nation with a temporary glue, but she wondered how long it would hold. She could feel the tensions among her own people growing and could see it between the elves as well. Their questions regarding who their leader was made finding Red’s body a priority. When he didn’t show up after the fighting had ceased, Britt knew he’d fallen, but the rubble and piles of dead throughout the city were their first order of business. Now that she could confirm to the Rollo people that Red was dead, she wouldn’t have to fight him for her position.

I didn’t want to claim myself as their leader until I knew for sure, she told herself. Maybe he knew I was right after all. That’s why he lured the fairnheir away? Understanding why Red, her enemy and the lead opposition to her leadership, had saved her and Kirsten would remain a question until she could join him in the Great Halls after death.  

Britt left the city to find Max and Kirsten waiting for her. When she saw them now, she let go of the resentment she’d had toward Kirsten when she’d pursued Max. Now Britt only felt remorse for her earlier displeasure and shared in the sadness Max and Kirsten were suffering in the loss of brother and companion.  

“Was he near that demon?” Kirsten asked.  

“Three streets over,” Britt said.  

“I would’ve come along, but Anders had me re-treating the crystals. He’s been trying to keep me busy, so I won’t think about it,” Kirsten said. She looked down and Britt knew her pain for Bo was at the front of her mind. 

“Did he say anything about the dragons?” Britt asked, trying to keep the focus off of Max’s brother, but Kirsten didn’t reply. 

“Only a few made it through. The ones from Nagano fell or fled. Two of the Norfolk riders and three dragons made it through. Hannah and Anders were able to save them,” Max said. 

“I still have a hard time believing we’re related,” Kirsten said, shaking her head.  

“Well did you see her?” Max replied. “She could be Anders’ twin.”  

“I still don’t understand that whole time paradox part,” Britt said, following the cart and leading them south toward the ships.  

“Nobody understands what Anders says lately,” Kirsten grumbled. 

“From what I understood, it means that more of them will be coming south,” Max said.  

“More dragonriders?” Britt asked.  

“More Norfolk; I don’t know if there are more riders though,” Max said.  

“Sol took all of the trained riders with him to help us, but he did say there were others who had been spending time with dragons who hadn’t bonded yet,” Kirsten remarked, sounding distracted for the first time in days. Britt wondered if this was the first sign of progress in the healing of her broken heart.  

“That’s good then,” Britt said, trying to sound hopeful. 

“Good for them,” Kirsten mumbled. 

“Do you two want to see the ceremony?” Britt asked, motioning to the ships.  

“Yeah,” Max said.  

“Not without Thomas. He was there the last time, so he should be there for this one too,” Kirsten said. 

“Did they ever figure out how to heal him?” Britt asked. 

“No. Anders can’t figure it out and the soul in his sword thinks the damage is permanent,” Kirsten said. 

“I’m sorry,” Britt said. 

“It’s not your fault,” Kirsten said. “It’s his own for trying to stop that dragon.”

“Come on, Kirsten. That’s not nice. You brother’s a hero. He saved countless lives,” Max said. 

Britt could see Kirsten’s eyes welling with tears as she shouted, “Why did Tony have to do it?!” 

Max stopped walking and grabbed Kirsten, bringing her in for a hug. Britt saw him eyeing her for help, so she stepped over to comfort Kirsten as well. “Nobody but Tony will know that,” Max said.  

Britt joined their embrace while Kirsten released her emotions.  

After several long moments he said, “Sometimes I wish Tony would’ve gotten me instead.”  

“Max,” Britt said in a warning tone. 

“But he didn’t. And I know that Bo wouldn’t want us feeling sad and sorry for him,” Max said with a sniffle. “He would want us to remember him like the happy-go-lucky brother he was to me and the loving companion he was to you. We owe him better than dwelling on what would’ve happened if he’d been two seconds slower or if he hadn’t been there at all. Wishing we were dead, too, does nothing to carry on his memory. I don’t know about you, Kirsten, but I’m going to take the extra time he gave me and live my life as best I can, because Bo didn’t die for nothing. I suggest you do the same.” 

Britt pulled away from their hug and stared at Kirsten with wide eyes wondering what she might do. She had never heard Max speak to a friend so tersely.  

Kirsten wiped away her tears and snot with her sleeve and nodded, “I know you’re right. He would want me to be happy and I promise I’ll try to be that, but not yet. I need to feel sad now so that I can move on to feel happy, eventually, even if right now it seems like I never will.” 

“I want what’s best for you too, Kirsten. We’ll get through this, eventually,” Max said.