Legacy of the Kings: Reconciliation: The Lost Parchment

The bickering was interrupted as Hadwyn and the others entered the room. He was mad his sons had snuck out of Gathstrom, but happy they were alive. Hadwyn ran and hugged them when his eyes caught a glimpse of the griffin.

He saw a woman on the back who was more familiar than he could believe. The twins glanced at one another as their father’s grip loosened. They knew he could see her.

“Mother is still alive,” Caedmon said.

Hadwyn stared at Nara, and she stared back. His jaw dropped. There was no denying the truth. The two watched one another as they drifted apart. Hadwyn’s spirit soared, but his knees wanted to buckle. It was too much to take. His wife was still alive. She was still alive…

Legacy of the Kings: Reconciliation: The Lost Parchment

The griffin vanished into the clouds with Hal and Nara, leaving the twins staring into the storm‑dark sky. The wind howled through the shattered colosseum, carrying the scent of smoke, blood, and victory. Below them, the armies of Odessis, Kindor, and Gathstrom pushed the trolls back into the ruins of Denton.

Hadwyn stood frozen at the window, his eyes locked on the fading silhouette of the griffin. His hands trembled—not from fear, but from the weight of hope he had buried years ago. “She’s alive,” he whispered once more. “She’s alive…”

Arandorion placed a hand on his shoulder. “We will get her back.”

Hadwyn didn’t answer. He was already moving. His mind was racing with plans to rescue Nara, while his fist clenched with anger. Hadwyn wouldn’t hesitate killing Hal and destroying all of Cerdina to bring his wife home safely. Hal… how was he alive? Where had he been? So many unanswered questions.

Andrius and Caedmon followed Hadwyn down the winding stairway, their steps uneven from exhaustion. Their bodies ached, their wounds burned, and their minds reeled from the awakening of the elements—but none of that mattered. Their thoughts were centered on Nara.

Outside, the battle was ending in the colosseum. Trolls fled into the south, chased by barbarians shouting war cries that shook the earth. Badden stood atop Ogie’s shoulder, armor dented, beard singed, and Justice in his grip. He was barking orders to the dwarves who were already clearing the wounded within the colosseum.

Kinsey wiped blood from her cheek and jogged toward the twins. “You two look terrible,” she said. “I’m proud of you.”

Andrius grinned and pointed at the broken colosseum. “You should be. Look what I did.”

“And all by himself too. Can you believe that?” Caedmon exclaimed.

Kinsey rolled her eyes and smiled. She was happy they were both alive. “If I don’t count every warrior here, sure.”

Ogie noticed Kinsey was no longer at his side. He nervously peered over the crowd of warriors until seeing Andrius and Caedmon. He darted toward them, loudly laughing along the way. Badden struggled to hold his position. He squealed and tumbled off Ogie’s shoulders. Ogie reached the twins, scooped them up, and nearly squeezed the life out of them. The twins grunted, a few bones popped, and they laughed.

“We’re happy to see you too!” Andrius said.

“Think you could put us back down before you break us?” Caedmon asked.

Ogie gently held them for a moment longer and then slowly released them.

Badden stomped toward the group with his eyes ablaze with pride. “Lads! That quake nearly knocked me beard off! Remind me never to make ya angry!”

“Don’t make me angry,” Andrius said.

“It’s no use. He’ll never remember,” Caedmon commented.

“Probably not,” Badden chuckled. “But Sahib will remember this defeat!”

“We didn’t do it alone,” Caedmon said. “Mother helped.”

Badden froze. “Mother?”

Hadwyn stepped forward, his voice steady but strained. “Nara is alive. Hal has her.”

The dwarf’s jaw dropped. “Well… that complicates things.”

“Hal is heading south with his trolls and puppets,” Arandorion said. “He will regather his forces.”

“And he’ll kill Mother the moment we get close,” Andrius said.

“No,” Caedmon replied. “He won’t. He needs her alive.”

“Why?” Kinsey asked.

Caedmon looked at the sky. “Because Hal is afraid,” he said. “He’s afraid of us.”

Arandorion nodded. “Then we must move quickly. The dark elves will not stay idle. And Hal… Hal is becoming something worse than either.”

Hadwyn turned to his sons. “We leave at dawn.”

Andrius raised an eyebrow. “Dawn? Why not now?”

“Because you’re bleeding,” Hadwyn said. “And because you can barely stand.”

Andrius opened his mouth to argue, but his legs wobbled beneath him. Caedmon caught him before he fell.

Badden chuckled. “Aye, lad. Even heroes need sleep.”

“Heroes,” Andrius faintly grinned as his eyes grew heavy. “You said it.”

Later that night, the wind shifted. The clouds parted just enough for moonlight to spill across the ruined colosseum. The fires crackled while the armies tended to their wounded. The night settled into a heavy, uneasy calm.

Hadwyn looked at the horizon where the griffin had vanished. “We end this,” he said. “All of it. Sahib. Hal. The puppets. The dark elves. Every shadow that has haunted these lands.” He turned to his sons. “And we bring your mother home.”

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which is lost.”

Matthew 18:11