The Threads of Destiny - Chapter 23 (Final)

Chapter 23: Return to Avendell

The walk back to Avendell was, thankfully, uneventful. They'd managed to make it back to the barrier without encountering any more of the Brethren. Osric hoped that might have meant they were in disarray after the death of Godfrey and would no longer be a problem, but he knew that was wishful thinking. Jasper had made it clear that Farvale was just a small outpost for the Brethren and Godfrey would only have been in charge of this one area, not their entire network.

Once through the Veil, the Stagfolk, who Rowen found fascinating, led them back to the heart of the forest. The entire way back, Jasper couldn't stop talking about the barrier and what it was like to pass through it. Even Grace, who seemed to not be shocked by anything, was amazed at the experience. The rest of the forest didn't disappoint them either, as they kept catching glimpses of shimmerlings and grovewalkers and briarwolves.

The real wonder started, however, when they reached the Concordant grove. Jasper nearly fell to his knees when he walked into the cleared circle flanked by carved symbols of the gods that made up the Veilguard.

"I can feel Heathus's presence here, filling me. It's like he's standing right beside me. It's … miraculous."

"Strange," Rowan said next to him, frowning. "I see the symbol of Wyndra, carved there, but I do not feel her presence."

"Not all experience the grove the same way," the Sage said, walking out of the forest to join them. "You are welcome to meditate here and reach out to her."

"I might," Rowan said, clutching the pendant she wore around her neck, proclaiming her service.

"I'm sorry for my rudeness," the sage said, smiling. "Welcome to the forest. I was so happy to hear of your return. I do not know what you faced out there, but we could feel some kind of change, a lightening of the veil, even here, from what you did."

"There was a creature in an old Calaphium temple that was … damaging the veil, somehow. We defeated it and found the missing part of the document," Osric said, stepping forward and holding out the torn piece of parchment they had recovered from the ancient temple.

The Sage took the parchment reverently. "Well done. Very well done. This will take some time to translate and decipher, weeks … perhaps longer. The Calaphium language is complex and layered with meaning, and this, above all the other pieces of their language we have seen, is critical that we get completely accurate. We can take no chances that we might mistake a word here or a phrase there and cause harm instead of repairing the veil."

"I have some experience with Calaphium texts," Jasper said. "I could assist you in the translation?"

The Sage's smile widened. "A fellow scholar of the Calaphium? I would be delighted to have your help. As for the rest of you, you have all earned a rest. Please, take this time to relax and recover from your trials. And know that any who wish to leave are free to do so."

All eyes turned to Grace, who'd made more than a few comments about doing this quest under duress, even after leaving the temple.

She gave an uncharacteristically shy shrug and said, "Nah, I think I'll stick around. This has been fun and besides, I got some good stuff off those dead cult guys."

Osric hadn't even seen her search the dead Brethren's bodies, but he didn't doubt she was telling the truth. And yet, he almost felt like there was more there. Like she wanted to be here but didn't want to tell them that.

"Last time we were here, you told me you could teach me more about magic, about how to use it without damaging the veil," Talia said. "Since we have time, are there people here who could guide me in that?"

"Of course. Of course. We would be glad to train you."

Talia beamed. She loved knowledge more than almost anything else, and Osric knew she'd always dreamed of traveling to the Conclave of Magic and getting real, formal training. This would be the next best thing, maybe even better, since she would learn how to do it without damaging the veil, which she'd been very concerned about.

"I could use some help learning to fight better. I've gotten by on luck so far, but I don't really have any formal training. If there is anyone here who can help teach me to be better …"

"I'd be happy to train you, Osric," Rowan said, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"There are also some among the Stagfolk who are skilled warriors," the Sage added. "I'm sure they would be willing to share their knowledge with you as well."

As the group dispersed, each to their own pursuits, Osric stood there, watching them. IT was odd, other than Talia, he'd only met them within the last week or two, and yet they'd become friends so quickly. Especially Rowan. Osric wondered what would happen to them now, once the document was deciphered and the Sage knew what needed to be done.

Would they all go their own ways? Would he go back to Eldham? Back to the forge? Something on his face must have given away what he was thinking, because Talia came to him, instead of finding some of the gathered druids who'd agreed to teacher her more about magic and its effects on the veil.

"You okay?" She asked softly, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't know, really. I was always dreaming of adventure, of a more exciting life, you know? Ever since we were kids, I wanted to be out here, exploring the world, being a hero. But now that I've had a taste of the world … it's not like what I thought."

"What do you mean?"

"I was scared to death all the time, Talia. Not just for myself, but for you, for all of us. The things we had to do, like that creature by the lake, putting it out of its misery. And the things we saw, like that spirit before the temple. It's opened my eyes to how terrible the world can be sometimes."

Talia reached down and took his hand, pressing it between hers. Her touch was warm. Comforting.

"But you did good too, Osric. So much good."

"Yeah, I found the document like the Sage asked for, but …"

"It's so much more than that, Osric. You helped a village that was dying, it's people starving. You made friends with creatures we thought were extinct, who now have a home free of danger. You exposed corruption in Farvale. You freed trapped spirits and removed a dark stain from the world. You've done so much. There are people out there better off now than before you met them."

She squeezed his hand, looking deep into his eyes, "I'm very proud of you, Osric."

They stood there, hands clasped, eyes locked. Osric felt a warm sensation, deep in his chest. For a moment, the weight of everything they'd done, that they'd still have to do, lifted, ever so slightly.

"Thanks," he said, turning back to look at the grove, holding Talia's hand, watching his friends.

They had a long way to go, but he realized, with Talia next to him, he was confident they could manage it.

To Be Continued …