The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

loss of many, butmost of all, I cry for the loss of my friend. I tell myself that wehave not truly lost him, for what he gave us is still here, in ourhearts. I see his love in the faces of his wife and children, I seehis strength and honor in the soldiers and knights whom he trained.I see his kindness in the fact that my own wife and children arestill here with me, for they would have died without him.” I couldno longer see the crowd before me, but my magesight told me thatthere were few dry faces now.

“I can think of no better descriptionthan the words James Lancaster used when he spoke of the loss ofhis lifelong friend, Gram Thornbear, Dorian’s father. When he toldof Gram’s death, he said that it stood out not as an exception, butinstead as a final example of how he lived his entire life. Ourlate-king was a wise man, and he stood as a role model for both ofus, and in this his words still ring true. Dorian, just as hisfather before him, gave his life in the defense of others, but itwasn’t an exceptional moment for him, merely the last moment of anexceptional life. His entire life was spent thus, ready to giveeverything for those who needed him. My greatest regret is that itwas my absence that created the need, the need that required hegive everything to save not just his own family, but mine aswell.”

“But it was not Dorian’s regret, forhim it was the fulfillment of a life lived for others. That is myonly consolation, and the only light by which I may someday be ableto forgive myself. For now, I can only begin by offering this gift,to the Queen of Lothion, for the protection of both the crown andthe people of the nation that Dorian Thornbear loved.” As Ifinished I reached into the pouch at my waist and drew out amassive egg-shaped stone.

The stone was midnight blue, so deepthat it almost appeared black, except under the brightest sunlight.It weighed almost ten pounds and approached the size of a grownman’s head. In my magesight, it thrummed with latent power, waitingfor the hand of the one who would unlock its potential, for the oneI had chosen.

Ariadne looked at me in surprise, andthough she hid it well, a small amount of fear. She stepped forwardgracefully, and responded without hesitation, “Your gift isunusual, Lord Cameron, but we will receive it with gratitude onbehalf of the people of Lothion.” She motioned toward one of thefootmen, indicating he should come forward to take the stone forher.

I whispered softly, making sure shecould hear me, “I know this is a shock, but you have to trust me.Only you can accept this gift. It cannot be handled by any otherthan yourself.”

The Queen moved closer to me andanswered in kind, “Are you insane? You can’t spring a surprise likethis in the middle of an official ceremony. You should have warnedme.”

“Trust me,” I repeated softly. “Putyour hand upon the egg, and state your acceptance on behalf of theline of Lancaster.” I wanted to say more but there was not enoughtime with the eyes of the crowd upon us. I had planned to wait, togive her the stone in private, since I hadn’t expected to have achance at a public gifting. Bringing it out at the end of my speechhad been a spontaneous impulse. “Marcus would counsel you to acceptit,” I added.

Ariadne blinked and looked straight atme. For a moment the past fell away, and we were kids again. Ismiled at her, and blinking she reached out, trusting her bigbrother’s closest friend not to betray her. Placing her hand on thehard surface, she spoke out loudly, “On behalf of the House ofLancaster, I accept your gift.”

A sound rang out as her hand touchedit, bright and shining, as if a silver bell had been struck.Ariadne stiffened in shock as the power touched her inner source,linking itself to her life. A ghostly image appeared around her inthe air, the form of a dragon, but it shrank inward around her andvanished almost as quickly as it appeared. “Carwyn,” said Ariadnesuddenly, “his name is Carwyn.”

“The dragon will hatch in ten days,” Itold her. “He will serve you for the rest of your life, and whenyour days are done he will die as well, but not forever. Like thelegend of the phoenix, this dragon will return to the egg, awaitingthe touch of your successor to be born again as a new being. Carewell for him.”

Ariadne took the egg with both hands,swaying as she stepped back. Two of her footmen rushed forward tosteady her, but I noticed she kept the dragon egg close to herbody. The bond had already taken hold, and she was loathe to letanyone else touch it. Her eyes flashed to me, “What’s wrong withme? Everything seems different.” There was a faint note of panic inher voice.

“Don’t worry,” I told her, “The bondwith Carwyn is affecting your body and senses in a fashion similarto the earth bond that the Knights of Stone possessed. Unlike thatbond, however, this one has none of the same drawbacks. You’ll getused to it in a few days.” I turned away then, an unforgivablebreach of etiquette when dealing with royalty, but I wasn’tparticularly worried about rules these days.

“Wait,” she commanded. “I don’t knowanything about caring for a dragon. I thought they didn’t exist,aside from Gareth.”

“They do now,” I told her. “Carwyn’sneeds should be small, and you’ll know if he lacks anything.” Itapped my head to indicate the dragon’s ability to speak directlyto her mind. I kept walking with Penny close beside me. We wentthrough the nobles and headed into the crowd. The people drew backas we passed, fearful of my nearness.

I suspect the Queen may haveconsidered ordering me back, but she must have thought the betterof it. No one attempted to stop our exit, and we proceeded tostroll casually back to our city home.

“That was a rather impromptu way togive such an important gift,” observed Penny as we ambled along thestreet.

I