Horsemen's War (The Rebellion Chronicles #3) - Steve McHugh Page 0,138
Remytopia, which, shocking no one, had been ignored.
I found my mother sitting on the porch of our three-bedroom, one-story wood-and-brick house. It was a little away from the rest of the settlement, and our nearest neighbor was a few minutes’ walk, which I didn’t have a problem with.
Astrid was playing in the snow by the front of the house with Frigg. Frigg had all but been declared honorary grandmother almost instantly by Astrid, and no one had suggested otherwise.
My mother came over and hugged me. We were still two strangers in many respects and now had to figure out how we worked as mother and son outside a war.
Astrid jumped into my arms. “Daddy,” she yelled. “I made a snow troll.”
She led me over to the frankly gigantic snow troll, which Frigg was almost prouder of than Astrid.
“Mummy’s inside,” Astrid said, jumping up and down.
I kissed Astrid on the head and walked into the house, shaking off the snow and finding Eos, Hyperion, and Selene all inside. The former two left soon after, and Selene kissed me softly.
“It’s done,” I said.
“Mordred will be glad he didn’t have to do it,” Selene said.
“I am too,” I told her. “No more war, no more killing—I just want to live here with all of you.”
Selene led me out onto the porch, and we sat down on the comfortable chair, her head on my shoulder.
“The start of something new,” I said. “Something good.”
Selene squeezed my hand as we watched our family play together in the snow. Astrid was throwing tiny snowballs at Hyperion, who pretended he’d been hit by gunfire.
“Yes,” she said softly. “And if anything threatens what we have here, I’ll happily wipe them from the face of every realm. When you said you needed to talk to me, I hadn’t imagined you’d considered setting up all of this. It was a good idea, Nate.”
I kissed the top of her head. I’d been created to be a weapon. To kill those who had been deemed unkillable. I was power and death personified, and I was finally in a place where I felt happy. Where I felt at peace. And if anyone like Arthur emerged from the darkness to try to take everything we’d fought for, then I would be ready for them. And by the time I was done, they would regret the day they’d been born.
As night fell, Mordred, Hel, and many others arrived. We built a large bonfire in the middle of the settlement, and as the children ran and played, I sat next to Mordred.
“This is nice,” he said. “There’s been a lot of talking to humans and trying to figure out where to go next. A lot of prisoners to deal with too.”
I knew that Mordred was saddened that he wasn’t working alongside me and the rest of us who had come to Nidavellir, but I also knew he understood why we’d moved here. Nidavellir needed to be prosperous again, and with the dwarves back here, and with the knowledge of the realms now firmly enshrined in human memory, it wouldn’t be long before someone started letting humans go to the other realms. Making them safe was a good start.
“Remy is trying to get everyone to play Dungeons & Dragons,” Selene said to me as the night got rowdier. Once the kids had been taken to bed, the drink flowed freely.
“The last time we did, Remy wanted to be a half troll, half badger who was in love with his sword,” Hel said from beside Mordred.
“Remy is odd,” Mordred said slowly. I watched as he reached into his pocket and retrieved a ring before placing it on the arm of the chair next to Hel.
Hel looked at the ring. “That’s a lava diamond,” she said.
Mordred nodded. “I had it made in Helheim. It took a lot of being really sneaky to get it done, and turns out it’s a giant—”
“Stop talking,” Hel said, not taking her eyes off the ring. She picked it up and stared at it.
“Marry me,” Mordred said. “I have never loved anyone like I love you. I have never felt this way. I have never been so terrified and enraptured by a woman. Marry me.”
“Terrified and enraptured?” Hel asked.
“Every single day,” Mordred said. “Hopefully for the rest of my exceptionally long life.”
Hel looked up at Mordred, her eyes wet. “Yes,” she said softly. “I love you.”
Mordred and Hel kissed, Hel slipped the ring on her finger, and everyone cheered, raising a toast to them both.
An hour later I found myself next to Mordred again, watching everyone enjoying themselves. “You were always the best of us, Mordred,” I said. “And look around—you’ve proved it.”
I offered him my hand, and he ignored it, hugging me tightly instead. When he pulled away, he wiped tears from his eyes. “Goddamn you,” he said with a sniff.
“You’re a good man,” I said. “And you’ll make a great king. You’ll be a so-so husband, though.”
“Just don’t make me cry again,” he said with a smile.
Hel spotted him as she danced with several others, and she motioned for him to join them.
“I have never been prouder to call you my friend,” I whispered as he took a step toward them.
I looked into his tear-filled eyes, and he smiled and said, “You son of a bitch.”
I winked and walked off, feeling my own eyes tear up.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
After spending so long with all these characters in my head, I have to say that it’s a strange feeling to be finishing Nate’s story. Or at least finishing Nate’s story where Arthur is concerned. Hopefully, one day I can return to this world and write more about everyone—and there are stories to tell—but for now, it’s time to let them rest.
Thirteen books and something like 1.5 million words to tell one huge story. It’s been a joy and a privilege to work with so many amazing people over the years, but before I get to everyone who helped get these books into your hands, I’d like to say thank you to every single person who reads my books. Everyone who loves the characters, who emails me with passion and desire to see what happens next, who tells me that they see themselves in my characters, who laughs out loud in public because Remy swore. Again. You’re all awesome, and I would not be here right now, writing this final chapter, without your support. Thank you.
As per usual, though, no book is created by just me, and there are a lot of people to thank.
My wife, first and foremost, mostly for just being awesome but also for being a fan of my work and being the most supportive and loving person I could hope to be married to.
My kids, for just being them, for being my inspiration to write, for making me want to make them proud. You’re all giant pains in my backside, and I love you dearly.
To my friends and family, you all rock. Your unwavering support over the years has helped me get here, and I’m not sure I can ever thank you enough for that.
To Paul Lucas, my wonderful agent. You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar, and I’m proud to have you as my agent and friend.
To Julie Crisp, my incredible editor, who read my garbled word salad and helped turn it into something approaching an actual book. Thank you—it has been a genuine joy and pleasure to work with you on the Rebellion Chronicles, and I hope to have the opportunity to work with you again in the future.
My publisher, 47North—you’ve stood beside me, you’ve promoted me, and frankly you’ve let me write some of the most batshit-crazy stuff I could think of, and you’ve always been okay with it. You’ve been a partner I’ve enjoyed working with since Crimes Against Magic, and each and every one of you needs to be thanked. A special shout-out to David Pomerico, Alex Carr, Sana Chebaro, Emilie Marneur, and Jack Butler. You might not all work at 47North anymore, but you all helped and championed my books, and for that I will forever be grateful.
Writing books isn’t all that hard, but writing books that don’t suck is. I’ve been lucky to work with and be supported by some of the best people I could have hoped for. And while the story of Nate is finishing, here’s to what comes next. Because I’m not close to being done.
Steve McHugh is the author of the bestselling Hellequin and Avalon Chronicles. He lives in Southampton, on the south coast of England, with his wife and three young daughters. When not writing or spending time with his kids, he enjoys watching movies, reading books and comics, and playing video games.