Endure - Sara B. Larson Page 0,109
and paid the ultimate price so that those of us who survived might enjoy the peace that we will now be able to establish.” Damian pulled out his sword and lifted it into the air, in salute. “We shall always remember their names and speak to our children of their bravery, so that our children will tell their children, and their deeds will never be forgotten — nor their sacrifices.”
The rest of us all pulled our swords out as well and lifted them up into the sky. Soon, the very first hint of the rising sun would begin to lighten the sky to the east, wiping away the stars, but for now, the only light was that of the fires, burning away the remains of those we’d lost.
“For Antion!” Damian cried, and we all echoed his cry. “For Blevon!”
“To peace!” I added, and he glanced over at me and then smiled.
“To peace,” he cried, and everyone echoed him yet again. “At last,” he murmured.
Just as he lowered his sword, the first ray of sunlight burst over the peaks.
He turned to me and put his arm around my shoulders. Together, we watched the flames burn away, until there was nothing left of our friends but ash. Everyone else had left by then, leaving us alone.
Finally, I turned away. I knew there were many more days, months, even years of mourning and grief ahead of me — but the words Lisbet had told me all those months ago, after I’d defeated Iker and had been struggling under the weight of guilt for Marcel’s and Jude’s deaths, rose back up. She’d told me that I was dishonoring their memories and their sacrifices by wasting the life they’d given me if I lived as a shadow, stuck in my sorrow and guilt. She’d helped me see that the greatest way to honor them was to live the best life I could — to find happiness again.
I looked up to the sky, and I was struck by the contrast of the darkness fading to blue as the sun slowly rose, bringing life and light back to the earth. The night came every day, stealing the sun’s power and turning the world to black. But every morning, the sun rose again, bringing light once more, no matter how dark the night had seemed.
When I glanced up at Damian, that’s how I felt. As if together, we were that tender, first ray of sunlight stretching out to try and dispel the darkness of the night. He was my light and my life.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, his eyes meeting mine.
I shook my head, not quite able to put it into words just yet. Instead, I stretched up to kiss him. I could tell he was surprised, but he quickly recovered and gently wrapped his arms around me, his lips on mine a tender promise of what was to come.
And behind us, the sun finally burst free of the mountains.
2 years later
Damian
When I come into our room, Alexa stands by the window, staring out at the jungle. I often find her like this, lost in thought. I know her mind frequently drifts to the past, not only to the memory of the many battles we fought, but also to all those whom we lost.
I quietly cross the room to wrap my arms around her from behind. Though she still complains about wearing the dresses I had made for her, I hope to convince her someday of how beautiful she looks in them. Not that I mind when she wears pants and a tunic. I’m not blind. But her swollen belly will prevent her from wearing pants for a while yet.
She wraps her arms over mine, twining our fingers together, as we look out the window, toward the new building that is almost complete — the sanctuary for the women, babies, and children still searching for homes or a place in our kingdom after the horrors of my father’s breeding house and Armando’s experiments in Dansii. After the rest of his soldiers surrendered to us, King Osgand and I agreed that we would jointly rule over Dansii until a new monarch can be placed upon the throne, one we trust to keep the peace. For now, we are still focused on rebuilding and healing the wounds all three kingdoms bear — inside and out.
The reconstruction of the palace is almost complete as well, which is a miracle considering the destruction we returned home to two years ago. Alexa