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

smiled. “I meant to give it to herin private, since they didn’t intend to let me speak, but when Rosecalled for me, I just gave in to impulse.”

“You didn’t tell her much aboutit.”

“The dragon will tell her what sheneeds to know. I’ll send a letter in a few days. I just couldn’tstay any longer. The crowd…,” I left my sentenceunfinished.

“It still bothers you, doesn’t it?”she asked.

I nodded, uncomfortable evendiscussing it. My back tingled with the memory of my lashing, butit was the shame of it that really made meuncomfortable.

“You’ve given them more than theydeserve,” Penny said angrily. “They owe you, not the other wayaround.”

I loved her for that. Penny wouldstand by me to the end of the world, but I still didn’t agree. Iknew I was far from blameless. I squeezed her hand but stayedsilent rather than argue about it.

We walked a bit farther before shebroke the silence again. “You still haven’t asked me about my hairornaments. I’m sure you’ve noticed them.”

They glowed with a powerfulenchantment, and this was the second time she had worn them. “Ifigured you’d tell me when you were ready.”

“You could at leastact curious,” shelamented, and then she gripped the metal cap at the end of eachbraid. Tugging them, they pulled free, drawing the metal cord withthem. The metal straightened as it left her hair, and the end capsbecame handles for two strange rod-like weapons, each slightlylonger than two feet in length.

“Those look rather dangerous,” I said,noting the shimmering magic that enshrouded each of the metalweapons.

“They are,” she agreed as shedemonstrated by swinging idly at a lamp post we were passing. Onlythe tip grazed it, but it cut a shallow gash through the wood withalmost effortless ease. “Elaine thought them up so I’d havesomething inconspicuous to take to your trial, but I have to admitthey have one major drawback.”

“What’s that?”

She pointed at her hair, loose andwavy where the braids had come apart. “There’s no sheath, andre-braiding my hair takes a while.”

I laughed and leaned over to give hera kiss. The world seemed a much brighter place now that we werealone, and I looked forward to seeing our children once we got backto Cameron.

Epilogue

The years passed quietly, rolling fromthe future, through the present, and into the past smoothly,without the turbulence that had characterized my life since firstlearning of my magical ability. I didn’t miss it at all. Adventure,at least as I had come to know it, was just a nice way of sayingthat people were going to die.

Matthew and Moira were thirteen yearsold now, Conall was nine and Irene seven. Conall and Irene had yetto show any sign of magical ability, but that was to be expected. Iwasn’t even sure if I could handle it when they did. The twins werealready quite a handful, and if they weren’t fairly level headed, Idon’t know how I would have kept them from killingthemselves.

Moira was still as sweet as ever, buther moods had begun to swing in sometimes unpredictable patterns.With me it wasn’t too bad, but she and Penny seemed to alternatebetween best friends and antagonistic allies. I say ‘antagonisticallies’ because I had learned, even if they were fighting, the lastthing I (or Matthew) wanted to do, was get involved. They’d turn oneither of us like wild tigers if we stepped into their mysteriousquarrels.

That being said, my daughter was stillfairly easy going, especially compared to other girls her age. Itmight have been my own optimism, but I saw no sign of her becominganywhere near as volatile as Elaine had been when she developedinto a woman. Her skills as a wizard were developing rapidly. Ithelped a great deal that she had a father, plus a number of otherwizards around to help her learn. Watching her grow, I could onlyimagine how much easier it would have been for me if I had had thesame guidance.

Her skill at enchanting was adequate,but she didn’t show too much interest in that area, at least notyet, though her special skills as a descendent of the Centyr linewere quite evident. She no longer kept a bevy of intelligentstuffed animals, but she still had two or three that served her asclose friends and advisors. They were the complex kind and requiredsome maintenance every few weeks. She could also quickly andspontaneously create lesser ones from nothing but magic alone, withwhat seemed to be minimal effort. I constantly had to be on myguard, for her tiny allies often followed me about, spying upon myevery move. It was a game that my daughter enjoyed, although itsometimes became annoying.

Matthew was as different from her asnight from day. His personality was quiet, reflective, and moreintroverted. His magical strength was stronger than his sister’s,and as he matured I began to wonder if he would grow even strongerthan me. He possessed a keen interest in enchanting. That wassomething we had in common, although his mind often went indirections I had never considered. Every day seemed to bringsurprises as he began to develop his own ideas. I knew a father’spride watching him and I hoped his inventions would someday changethe world.

He and his sister had become somewhatcompetitive with the advent of their teenage years, especiallysince she seemed to be developing into an archmage. Her senses wereas keen as my own, and she had already begun to hear the voice ofthe earth.

They remained the best of friends, butneither of them would admit to it in front of their mother or me. Icould only hope that their sibling rivalry would subside as theygot older, but being an only child myself, I couldn’t reallyunderstand it.

The Order of the Stone continued, butit was much smaller now. Cyhan had remained in my service, butHarold had accepted the Queen’s offer, and now led the new Order ofthe Thorn. He was still on the rolls of the Order of the Stone, buthis full loyalty now lay with the crown. Sir Egan, Sir William, andSir Thomas joined him, which left Cyhan as the only member torefuse the Queen’s invitation.

Cyhan was starting to show his agenow, but it didn’t seem to bother him