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

vision.It seemed as if I was approaching it at a crawl, yet I was pushingmy speed as much I could without the risk of losing control of mymagical craft. Even though it had been a day and a half since I hadleft Albamarl, and my emotions were almost non-existent, I couldfeel a growing tension as my goal grew closer.

I flew over the shoreline withoutinterruption. The magic that had been used to snare me on my lastvisit was notably absent. Magesight revealed a few glimpses of theKriteck, but they were few and faint. I detected none of the morepowerful ones that had greeted me before.

Where have theygone?

Something faint touchedthe exterior of my craft as I flew, a tenuous extension of power,seeking and identifying me in a single instant. Bring her directly to me, came themental voice I recognized as Tennick. I was forced to admire hisskill at being able to reach my mind directly, despite the distanceand the various barriers represented by both my craft and the armorI wore.

“I suppose two thousand years alone onan island leaves one with a lot of time to practice,” I said aloud.Silently, I returned an affirmative thought, assuming that Tennickwould be able to detect it.

The rest of my trip across the islandwas similarly untroubled, though I discovered the location of mostof the Kriteck once I reached the father-tree. They were gatheredin all their varied forms around the tree. The four massivedragon-like ones that I had seen rise from the earth were there aswell, spread out almost a quarter mile apart in each of thecardinal directions. Only the space immediately around Tennick wasclear. I knew intuitively that that was where I was meant toland.

My landing was anti-climactic, silent,and without any sort of greeters, not that I was surprised. Theyknew why I was here, and each of them had their purpose. TheKriteck were to guard and protect, there was no need for envoys towelcome me. Tennick himself could not move, but I could sense hisattention focused on me. The sensation was so strong it almostseemed as if the tree leaned over me. Even though the sun was stillshining down brightly, his presence was a shadow over myshoulder.

I was fifty yards from the massivetree, a distance made necessary by the fact that, over the years,Lyralliantha would likely come to be just as large as her kianthi.In the past the She’Har had sometimes chosen to plant themselvescloser together, but only when they had an explicit reason, such asgrowing some of the impressive structures their cities hadcontained.

This planting would be traditional andpractical. Far enough to give the two trees room to grow freely,yet close enough for their roots to reach one another—and closeenough to ensure pollination would never be a problem. In time, ifthings went well, the grove would expand, as some of their childrenplanted themselves around them; mother and father-trees wouldeventually cover most of the island.

That reflection left mewith one sobering thought. Where willMordecai’s children be then? Will they still occupy the mainland,or will it be empty and sterile, victim to Mal’goroth’s spite? Willhe let the race that created him return to reclaim thatland?

Humanity’s fate was very much indoubt.

I harbor no ill-willtoward the people of my origin, Tennickrelayed directly to my mind. I merely wishto restore what I destroyed.

You and Mal’goroth havevery different visions of the future, Ithought wryly.

For him there is nofuture.

That was a positivethought, but I wasn’t so hopeful, I wishthat were true, but I can see no way to defeat him.

You cannot,the ancient She’Har mentally nodded inagreement, but he will have no futureregardless.

Even as we conversed, mybody was moving, obeying its incessant requirement to deliver Lyrato her beloved kianthi. My magic had brought her stone containerout and had removed its covering already; it was settling to theground now. I walked over and stared down at the woman lyingwithin. Reaching out I began removing the enchantment that held herbound, timeless, within the sarcophagus. In the back of my mind, mythoughts still pondered Tennick’s words. I’m more concerned with whether Mal’goroth will destroyhumanity’s future, even if he doesn’t have one himself.

You cannot defeathim.

Who could?I questioned.

The man who destroyedThillmarius could do it, Tennickresponded.

Mordecai? He’sdead, I noted without enthusiasm.What about another archmage?

The She’Har didn’t respond for a longtime, his attention caught by Lyralliantha as she took a new breathand began to rise from the stone box. Her gaze was takenimmediately by the sight of the massive father-tree, and her lipscurved into a smile.

“You succeeded!” she exclaimed withunconcealed delight.

I have waited foryou! Tennick’s thought was bright with ajoy that I hadn’t suspected the tree to be capable of.

There was no hope of continuing ourconversation for the moment. Tennick and Lyra’s minds were entirelypreoccupied with their reunion. I could catch hints of theiremotions spilling out now and then, but the bulk of theircommunication was private, hidden from my perception. She had begunto dance, a physical expression of her happiness, as though herbody could no longer contain the entirety of her feelings instillness.

She ran to the base of the giant tree,placing one hand upon its bark before leaping away, twirling with askip in her steps. Moving in large circles, she made her way aroundthe clearing before returning to the center, to a place close towhere I had landed. The earth looked soft there, as if it had beenfreshly tilled. Tennick must have known the spot she wouldchoose.

She danced around it before lightingin the center and digging her feet into the loose soil like achild. A shudder ran through her body then, and her eyes stopped onme for the first time since she had emerged from her enchantedslumber. “You,” she said softly.

I returned her look with a sense ofmild annoyance. “Yes?”

She gestured toward me with her arms.Her legs seemed to have become stiff already. I wondered if shemight already be taking root. I stepped closer, but she continuedto gesture until I was within reach of her arms.

“What do you want? I thought I wasfinished,” I said coldly.

Her arms went around my shoulders andshe pulled me into a close embrace. “You have done all I