Just as Tona had said, the dark army was indeed gathered in the Oasis.

There was not a single nixie within sight as the Slumber Serpent had taken up almost all of the space in their dwelling. The creature remained as it was when it first fell - asleep and snoring loudly causing the ground to tremble at intervals.

Waverly was on the opposite side of the ocean on a small uninhabited island overwhelmed by large rocks and thick fruticose that lined scraggly pathways. She lowered herself in her hiding spot. The island was so small that one could walk no more than seventy steps to arrive the other end where the sea lapped and licked bleached rocks and blades of grass.

Day was breaking fast. The red and violet tint in the sky slowly gave way for the sun to spread its warm tendrils of yellow across the ocean. Waverly watched and waited as more of the dark army came pouring in. They were leaderless now and had no camps and so they simply lingered near the water, making sure to avoid the snoring serpent. The magnificent creature was on their side - the only obvious reason why their noises was far from a bother to it.

As the sun began to rise, Waverly did as well. She clearly remembered what her mother said right before she had left her on the rocky island.

"Tipping the battle scales now will take more than just your strength. You have to use wisdom."

Waverly sat utterly still for hours afterwards pondering over what Alluna had meant. Luckily, as the first light of day appeared, she began to understand. Although she felt doubtful and a bit wary because she feared that what she translated the goddess's words to mean could be different from what it truly meant. It was usually that way with deities.

Nonetheless, she needed to try. And there was that tiny voice in her head that kept reassuring her that she was doing the right thing. Waverly had grown to trust that voice strongly ever since Luna had encouraged her to embrace it.

She rose and walked to the edge of the island where a few cut-out stone steps led halfway down to where the icy cold water splashed against strewn boulder sized rocks. Waverly climbed down and sat on one of these rocks so that small waves rolled in and crashed against her lower body. Yet, no creature sighted her in the open.

She drew in a calm, steady breath. The knowledge of what she needed to do hovered in her mind like a halo. The time had finally come to request an old favor; one she was offered a year ago by the most unexpected ally. A friend she met leagues and leagues beneath the waves.

"Lord Gayl." She began quietly. "If you can hear me."

Get up. Her inner voice commanded.

Waverly slowly rose to her feet. At that very moment, a creature of the dark army spotted her and gave a loud, piercing wail. She could not see it but guessed it was a Banshee just by its cries.

"If i find favor with you now as i did when you deemed me worthy to behold your presence and your realm. . ."

The dark army became agitated. They gave great shouts and fired arrows at Waverly but as a result of their sudden upheaval, no dart hit the mark. A group of Outcasts began to rile up the Slumber Serpent by poking it with spears. They could not cross over the ocean themselves and the creature was their only hope of destroying the enemy that stood on an island more than a hundred feet across.

"I humbly ask that you grant me this simple boon." Waverly looked down at the rolling waves, her heart pounding in her chest.

Use wisdom. Fight fire with fire.

"What i demand is not beyond your abilities nor beyond that which is expected of you as an Elemental godhead."

The Slumber Serpent awoke but its eyes, wherever it was on its head, remained shut. It reared to a slow vertical stand and the dark army cheered for it, ignoring the quiver of the earth beneath that unsteadied their feet and inclined their bodies to knock against each other.

The rigid creature created a massive looming shadow that could have easily matched that of a small mountain and being near it made Waverly want to bolt but she stood as one whose ankles were fettered by poisoned teeth.

"I ask that you release Tumut." She completed.

The waters suddenly stilled.

This occured for only a moment because the next was followed by sequential claps and roars of mighty thunder, heart stopping lightning and darkened clouds. An enraged current of wind rolled over the atmosphere. Time seemed to reverse as darkness fell over the realm. The ocean broke into its own rage and began to swirl in every direction, waves crashing against waves so that a spray of water rose into the air and flattened against the surface again.

Waverly whistled for Chestnut and he came bounding toward her. He flew her away from the island - though with much struggle - to a high hill in a line of hills that jutted out of the ocean, overlooking it and a quarter of the Oasis.

There, she opted to stand and watch.

Tumut came quickly.

He was a big and muscly form and he descended from the clouds rather than out of the water as Waverly had initially thought he would.

She had never beheld his full form save his mighty hands that were literal clouds. The rest of him was also shrouded in dark clouds infused with terrifying lightning. The picturesque image imitated the form of a manly silhouette that moved around behind a translucent, fluffy curtain only that no man could be seen beyond the obscure wall of grey fog.

Tumut began to lift the ocean while he stood under it, his hands raised as he bore the weight of the raging blue water. His mouth opened in a terrible roar and he lunged forward. The unmitigated force of the sea first collided with the Slumber Serpent, sending the creature back into the depths. The raging storm rolled over the Oasis, burying the dark army as it moved onward.

Waverly sincerely prayed that no nixies were caught in the waves even though Tumut would not harm them as it was his one obligation to respect every sea creature and bring them no harm.

The ocean raged for a long time. It was quite a dreadful thing to watch the ocean blow a fuse, wiping out every last creature of the dark army until there was nothing left.

At last, the waters calmed. The clouds brightened and the sun torched the blue sky with beautiful lurid beams. Waverly took a step forward staring with tear-filled eyes at the peaceful landscape.

"At last." She muttered and threw her arms around Chestnut in a hug. "It's over."

She watched the horizon for a long time, unable to peel her gaze from the beauty before her. It was magnificent how despite all the ruin and damage, the realm could still endure. It still looked as serene and as lovely as before.

After a long time, Waverly began to spot heads coming out of the water. A smile broke across her face as nixies carefully surfaced and stared about in wonder. When they were sure that their home was completely deserted and free of intruders, they swam to their various shells many of which had already been crushed to powder by the weight of the Slumber Serpent.

Waverly watched them resettle, talking in chitters and English. They moved in large numbers, occasionally going off to find broken shell parts or totally new ones. As she watched them rebuild, Waverly suddenly remembered everyone else. She hurriedly got onto Chestnut and he took her back to the city.

When they approached Nael, she noticed a massive gathering just past the bridge. Uniforms of all styles and color dotted the ground and when she peered closer, her heart did a double flip - Judson was being handcuffed whilst on his knees, surrounded by the sharp end of spears and bows.

Waverly jumped off Chestnut before he even hit the ground.

"Stop!" She screamed, running toward the crowd.

All the King's Generals who had survived were present. Priam and Everild stood before the group of armed soldiers and locals that tried to get a good glance at Judson who, apparently, had been the cause of all their suffering.

Waverly rushed to Priam first. "Please, you have to let him go. He has done nothing wrong."

"From what i have heard and seen, i am bound to believe different, soldier." Everild answered instead.

Her face was taut with anger. She stared deadeye at Judson and her fists were balled so tightly that it suggested she was restraining from punching him into oblivion.

"He is the perpetrator. He started this war."

"No." Waverly objected. "Oculmus started a war - all of this. He was only being used."

The crinkle of stiff clothing followed by the clinking of glass on glass and metals made Waverly turn around. An entire procession was making their way to the gathering and in front was the royal family followed by King Caccas and Princess Luanda. Waverly had already forgotten that the princess was still present. She looked just as battered and bloodied as every soldier.

"Your Majesties." General Everild said with a brief bow. "At last we have apprehended the Shade that started all of our troubles."

"It seems." King Javan sighed staring hard at Judson's face.

Waverly thought she would never see Judson look so discomforted with everyone glaring either curiously or hatefully at him.

"Your Majesty, he is innocent." Waverly pleaded quickly.

Helplessly, she turned to Luanda. "You know us, don't you, Your Highness? You have seen Judson and me before, back home. You can at least tell them that he is not a bad person. He would never hurt anyone."

Luanda glanced at King Javan and Queen Daya, back at Waverly then at Judson. When she spoke, her voice was pleasantly deep yet intimidatingly formal.

"I have seen you as you say but i do not know who you are nor your friend. Do not take that to mean that i am against you and this boy but you must remember that this is not my father's kingdom and whatever i say now, no matter what it is, will not save him from the punishment the Elven King will decree. I am sorry, Waverly."

Waverly's shoulders slumped forward. She turned to glance pitifully at Judson. "What will you do to him?"

"The boy has broken every known rule in my kingdom well as ones that exist not." Javan began. His tone, in spite of his angered expression, was calm.

"I will give punishment as fit tis rules but i cannot do that because beforehand i have been warned to refrain."

Every forehead wrinkled into a curious frown. Everild's was even deeper. Waverly suddenly remembered why the King had spoken what he did before he could speak again.

"In the last days in the season of Pour came Her Ladyship Juniper to pay visit to me. There present also were the now late honorable Kings of Veston and Ezkaliepton and Caccas here. A warning she gave to not upon tis boy decree harm of any sort. I am a just King but i also am an obedient one as my predecessors were to the Entonian gods. Therefore i will heed Her Ladyship's commandment."

Waverly released a deep sigh of relief and said a silent prayer of gratitude to Juniper. Her precedent visit had ultimately saved Judson's life.

"But. . ." Javan continued. "Pain yet and ruin he did cause my peaceful kin and I decree that hence he is eternally forbidden to step foot into Alpgeton or her surrounding borders. Be he found by any an Elf of whatever status, i bestow upon them the authority to do to him as they see fit."

Waverly turned to Judson again. Until then, she had not realized that she harbored the subconscious excitement of bringing him to Eden to see the nature spirits. Now her plan was thwarted. Judson bowed ashamedly. His face was shielded by the stray curls of his hair. Waverly could see he was trying to hide his hurt.

"Tis banishment takes effect immediately past sundown." Javan continued. His face was sterner than Everild's. "I do not wish mine eyes be laid upon him on the morrow because if i do, a disservice i might result to do to Juniper."

The multitude of soldiers that had Judson at arrow and spear point subsequently averted their weapons. A young soldier came forward and loosened the steel manacles around his wrist. Waverly went to stand next to him but he could not look her in the eye.

Just then, familiar faces began to appear amongst the crowd; Phyllis, Regent, Grace, Ceylon, Diarmaid and Borzoi, and a few recognizable Tyros.

"Hello." Phyllis greeted calmly. She had sustained an ugly cut around her collar bone. It was swollen and slightly purple. A huge part of her armor was ruined thereby exposing a lot of her injured skin. Judging by the wound marks, Waverly guessed she had wrestled creatures with claws.

She walked forward and Phyllis pulled her into a hug. "We heard what happened."

"Which part?" Waverly asked and slowly broke off. She ran her open hand over the cut on Phyllis's collarbone so that it began to seal up. The latter gave a weak smile of appreciation then turned to Judson, studying him wholly within a few seconds.

"He does look harmless." She concluded quietly then her face contorted into a sad, disappointed one. "You will have to go with him, won't you?"

"She has to." A tiny voice replied.

Everyone turned to stare at the new intrusion, gasping aloud and muttering excitedly amongst themselves.

"My Lord." General Priam called to the King who had already begun to leave. King Javan halted and turned around. His face went as pale as chalk.

An overwhelming array of tiny glowing creatures resembling fireflies hovered away from the rest of the crowd and as everyone looked on, each creature engorged with a burst of brilliant blue luminescence and became a grown person.

Every mouth hung agape. A small army of complex looking folk with wings was soon fully formed before them.

Waverly recognized one of them immediately.

"FluffPick." She squealed happily and ran towards him. FluffPick broke into a short happy laughter and opened his arms wide to receive her.

"Hello, Waverly." He greeted, patting her gently on the back. "I am so glad to see you again."

"You came at last." Waverly exclaimed with a wide grin. "I thought you were not allowed to."

"Well," FluffPick began and gestured to his right. "With My Lady here, i guess i am."

Waverly turned and found a woman staring warmly at her. She was quite confused at first as all the ladies looked quite similar even down to their hairdos which was cut close to their heads. It reminded Waverly of Diarmaid's mother and she had a strong suspicion that the sketch of Laguna she had seen was done after the latter's famous dinner with the Queen of Crysoton.

"At last, we meet." The Queen spoke. Her voice sounded like a beautiful low laughter.

She turned to look at King Javan and gave a curt nod. "King Javan, Lord of Alpgeton, King of Elves, Lord over The Great Jungle and Homestead of Gayl, your days will be longer than your forefathers."

"Bless my household." King Javan said, still awestruck. "I have housed Hammits, Fire Mortals, Humans and Ezkaliens altogether, and today folk of Crysoton find their way to my realm. A marvel tis age proves to be."

The Lady Maddei held out her hand and King Javan took it and placed a light kiss on it. She greeted Caccas with more eulogies than she did Javan and he kissed the back of her hand too. She did the same for Queen Daya and Aurora but did not seem to know who Luanda was, though the princess did not mind much as long as she still received a hug.

"Why have ye come now?" King Javan asked curiously. "The war is over. Nothing remains to defend. Half my realm has gone to ruins already."

Lady Maddei smiled. "Why, i have brought my people to render aid as instructed by our matron, My Lady Juniper. We have been told to help you rebuild as much as we can."

King Javan brightened up at once. "All praise to Juniper. Come, My Lady, to my house we must go to discuss tis plan for reassembly and reconstruction. Come. Tis place be no good for a multitude of important high guests."

"In a moment, My Lord." Lady Maddei said. King Javan halted and stared questioningly at her. "I also come with a message to deliver as soon as possible."

She turned to Waverly and to Judson then beckoned on them to come to her. The pair bowed and the Queen gently touched their heads.

"You may rise, young ones."

After taking a long, good look at them, she smiled gladly and spoke again with a hint of accolade. "Such grave tribulations you have faced at such a young age. Of course, it is only expected with your heritage as Zanaan."

King Javan scoffed. "Only one is Zanaan and that is she." He pointed at Waverly. "She who governed my people without my knowledge."

"She who saved and helped your people without your knowledge." Lady Maddei corrected amusedly. "And yes, Waverly is a child of the moon. Had it not been for her presence here at the time, your realm would have been obliterated by Incubuses. I believe that is the right name for those vile creatures."

King Javan had a look of disbelief on his face when he spoke. "Nonsense. Those Lunoglyphs were the works of Selene."

"Do you really believe that, My Lord?" Lady Maddei asked then gazed at Judson. "As for the boy, he is indeed innocent. He is a son of Spring, a child of Nature herself. Juniper's only known seed. His hand in this war is but part of a greater future that we will all soon realize. And yet, this is no time to ponder riddles and unfold events of the past or future."

The Queen stepped closer to Waverly and spoke in a low, almost conspiring tone. "Your interrupted journey must continue with or without a third party. You know the prophecy?"

Waverly internally kicked herself. She still could not recall the rest of it and it made her feel inconsistent and irresponsible in front of the Queen. "N-no, not really, My Lady."

But Maddei did not seem to be disappointed by her lack of retentiveness. "That is alright. Revvi?"

A Crysotoni stepped forward. She was dressed in a thin attire that bared her shoulders and the numerous minute markings on them; the rest of her skin was flawless and unmarked. A yellow crown of the smallest bells graced her richly dark hair and around her arms and wrists were bracelets of tiny laurels. A heart shaped anklet was clamped around her right ankle and it was odd to see that she wore a vine sandal on her left foot and a golden slipper on the right. Her walk was gracefully. The steps that reminded Waverly of Opal.

"My Lady." Revvi bowed to Maddei.

Waverly remembered that FluffPick had mentioned a seer during her trials in RenderMore. Revvi was definitely her.

"Relay the prophecy once more, will you?"

Revvi nodded and looked at Waverly with deep, dark eyes. "A company of three travels to face dread, one derails two forge ahead. A gift of protection transposed in a moment, a shattered soul, a duty of atonement."

Waverly glanced at Judson who looked perplexed as he had not heard the prophecy before. The last time it was spoken, he was unconscious. Waverly tried to decipher the prophecy; the company of three had obviously been herself, Brijjet and Judson. Brijjet had derailed in death and the two who would forge ahead was quite obvious. The remaining lines bothered Waverly but she decided to ponder them later.

"You and the son of Spring must go on." Lady Maddei said.

"Go on where?" Waverly asked. "We have no idea where to go or what to do. Our last travel did not prove so successful."

Here, the Queen laughed. "Of course it proved successful. You were brought here because of it and you did all that you were meant to do. Never think that where you are is not where you are supposed to be because it is only leading you to where you are meant to go."

Waverly quite understood that. "So, what now?"

She turned to look at Judson. He still had a black wing which meant that despite Oculmus's absence he still carried the Night's Curse.

The Queen received a rolled up parchment from Revvi and passed it on to Waverly. "This is your new map."

Waverly gaped at it. It was pure gold. Never before had she seen a golden parchment. Even the King of Elves with all his riches did not have one though she was not so sure as she had never really been to the King's treasury.

"I will advise that you memorize the map. You cannot deny that you have a tendency to lose such things." Revvi said.

Waverly wanted to argue but thinned her lips. Revvi was in fact telling the truth. She had lost many valuables in such a short amount of time. It made her feel slightly embarrassed that a Seer would know something as trifle as that about her but then again, Revvi was a Seer.

"This map will lead you to the place you must travel to." Maddei continued. "Even if you do memorize it, you might forget often as your journey will be long and full but i encourage you to not lose sight of your goal no matter what happens."

She gazed at Judson. "Stick together and you will succeed."

"When do we have to leave?" Waverly asked. It had slowly settled in the pit of her stomach like a bad ache and in her chest like a gathering tremble that she would have to say goodbye - to everyone.

"Well, you have no time to lose. You must leave as soon as you can." Lady Maddei replied. She looked up at King Javan who had been watching and waiting patiently.

"If it is not too much to ask, i would like for His Highness to provide supplies for them to make travel."

King Javan waved his hand at his soldiers and they dispersed, taking the crowd with them. He turned to Maddei. "May we leave now?"

"Of course, My Lord." She replied with an apologetic look on her face then gave one last glance at Judson and an encouraging nod to Waverly.

"I wish you both the very best of Andaie."

With that, the Queen and her procession followed the King toward a large group of horses that had been brought for them to ride on. FluffPick lingered to say goodbye to Waverly.

"I do not know when next i will see you but you should know - you are a once in a lifetime occurrence, Waverly." He said. "I wish i could come with you to provide assistance in any way but alas this is a task for two."

"Thank you, FluffPick." Waverly said with a smile.

FluffPick nodded. He looked at Judson then gave a quick bow and joined the procession. Waverly turned around and found her friends collectively staring at her. She handed the parchment to Judson and walked to them.

"Geez, i can't believe after all we've been through you are just gonna leave like that. We didn't even get to hang out first." Ceylon complained.

"Youse the only one who did not want to hang out with herse and now youse also complaining." Grace barked at Ceylon but she did not seem angry, merely upset.

"Youse have to stop talking in my face all the time, Grace." Ceylon mimicked. The pair began to bicker.

"I can't believe i'll be the one responsible for breaking that up all the time." Phyllis chuckled.

She took Waverly's hand. "I am really sad that you have to go. Will you ever come back?"

Waverly wanted to answer positively but her reply got stuck in her throat. "I don't know yet but will you make sure they do not kill each other until then?"

Phyllis nodded with a sad smile. Tears had already begun to form in her eyes. "I'll really miss you."

"I will miss you too." Waverly said and was drawn into a hug. When she pulled away, she took Phyllis's hand and gazed down at her engagement ring. "I hope i can make it back before your wedding."

"You better do. Grace will never agree to wear a dress, even for me." Phyllis laughed tearfully. "You promise to take good care of yourself and your friend there."

Waverly gave a short laugh and nodded then turned to Regent who stood directly behind Phyllis. He pouted when she came to stand in front of him.

"What? You think i am going to cry too?" He asked. "Because if you do then you're right."

Waverly smiled widely and pulled him into a hug. When they broke apart, he handed back her short sword which was still in the sheath Dermot had made for it.

"I never really got to use it that much."

"Keep it. I have a feeling i might lose it if i take it with me." She said.

"Take extreme care, Waverly." Regent said and patted her on the shoulder. She nodded and moved to Grace who did no more than cry aloud and hug her whilst Ceylon flung his arms around both of them.

"Thank youse for everything." Grace said bawling into Waverly's hair since she had lifted the latter up.

"It is so scary when she cries." Regent whispered to Phyllis.

"I heard that." Grace growled and placed Waverly down. She presented a stuffed toy - a Neon Stallion. "My brother wanted to meet youse and give this but now hese can't. So here, good luck."

Waverly received the stuffed animal and examined it. Unlike Rubick and many others she had seen, the stallion was black with a white mane.

"Tell him i'm very grateful for his gift."

She walked over to Diarmaid and Borzoi next and mustered up enough courage to squat and scratch the dog behind her ears. Borzoi stamped her feet in appreciation and licked Waverly's palm then began to run in circles around her legs.

"And you told me that you're not a dog person." Diarmaid exclaimed with a soft chuckle.

Waverly shrugged and watched Borzoi run off to play with Regent. When she turned around, Diarmaid was holding out two items; the first was Calaire still entwined by twigs and the second - Waverly gasped softly and covered her mouth - was Dermot's hunting cloak. She could not even recall the last time she had had it on or taken it off.

"It's okay. You did not lose it." Diarmaid consoled knowingly. "You left it with a guard named Penelope. I found her and a bunch of kids under The Repelling Earth and she gave it back to me."

Waverly exhaled in relief as she suddenly remembered. She still had the cloak on even when she met Aveon and after he took her to the Darkle but when she went with Penelope to fetch food and other supplies, it had unclasped around her neck right before she slid off of Chestnut.

"Where did you find Calaire then?" She inquired, solemnly receiving the items.

"A nature spirit found it and gave it to Cassiope. She literally ran into me whilst searching for you and handed it over because she thought it would be easier for me to find you."

Waverly's face fell at the mention of Cassiope. Even while a dangerous war was raging, the flower spirit had simply gone about in search of her to hand over an important missing item.

"She's gone too, isn't she?" Diarmaid asked quietly.

Waverly nodded staring down at Calaire and carefully picking at the thorns on it.

"A lot of them were lost. We might be able to rebuild our homes but it would take years for theirs to grow back."

Waverly felt around her pocket and pulled out the stones. She took Diarmaid's hand and let one drop.

"Find Blauren or Loni. Ask around and you'll be directed to them. Tell them i am sorry. Tell them i was not what they thought of me."

Diarmaid gazed at the stone. "You can't stay for Brijjet's Crossing, can you?"

Waverly sighed heavily. She had almost forgotten that the Prince was yet to be balmed and burned on a pyre and it came as a sort of relief that she would not be available to witness it. This was mostly because she did not want to face Aurora again in such a grave atmosphere and the fact that she would have to watch Brijjet burn as she had watched Dermot. She was not sure her heart would be able to bear any more pain.

"I'm sorry about him." She replied instead.

Diarmaid lifted a placating hand. "No need for apologies. Actually, he sort of had it coming and i'm sure he knew. I just feel great sorrow that he had to go hence now and of course, there's Aurora. The poor thing won't be getting past her grief, at least not anytime soon."

"She blames me for his death." Waverly said with a mild frown.

Diarmaid half smiled. "Well, as expected. You're not exactly friends, are you?"

Waverly chuckled. "No, not really."

A moment of silence passed between them before Diarmaid spoke again. He looked straight into Waverly's eyes. "I guess this is goodbye then."

"Until whenever." She said, her left eye twitching.

Being the younger, Diarmaid looked more like Dermot but she knew in that moment it was not him she would miss, it was Diarmaid. A tear rolled down Waverly's cheek and Diarmaid pulled her into a tight hug.

"You go out there and become a legend, you understand?" He whispered.

Waverly laughed, clamping her fist around his shirt. "Yes. Yes i understand."

He pressed his lips to her cheek and released her. "Go on then."

Waverly turned and found soldiers handing over the reins of two black horses to Judson whilst glaring hard at him but he seemed to be oblivious to their deadeye. Each horse had a high load strapped to its back packed and ready for a long journey.

Waverly felt great exhaustion rest on her chest but she knew there was no time to rest - the sooner they began their travel, the better. She had not the slightest idea where they were headed as she was yet to open the map nor did she have a clue what she was to do when they arrived there, if they arrived at all and in one piece.

She heaved a tired sigh and began to walk to the horses still holding on to Diarmaid's hand. Judson climbed onto his own horse and took the reins. Diarmaid nodded when their gazes met.

"You take care of her, okay?" He admonished.

Judson nodded slowly.

Diarmaid gave one last hug. "Good luck." And an encouraging, wily smile.

Waverly fastened the cloak around her neck, bound Calaire around her wrist and climbed atop the horse then whistled for Chestnut.

He came running pup sized from a pile of rubble afar off and wagged his tail, gazing up expectantly at her.

"You are part of the team, remember? We have to go now." She said and Chestnut made a beeline for the bridge.

Judson urged his horse and she did likewise. Diarmaid stayed behind with Borzoi now at his heels, waving goodbye.

Waverly waved until her horse began to approach the descending slope on the other side of the bridge. She sighed again and gazed at the visible rest of Nael. Soon, the horses had cantered beyond the city and was heading toward the mouth of the forest.

Waverly feared that were was no guarantee that she would return to Alpgeton. Nevertheless, she prayed that one day she could.

Whenever that day came, she knew the realm would have been reconstructed and whole again. She also prayed that other realms had received help in one way or another because even they had suffered great losses during the war - some greater. She wondered if King Javan would send help to them now that he had his. It was established that the Elven King was still wary of her and more of Judson because of their identities as god's blood but it calmed her to know that the reputation she had built within the short time of living with the Elves would precede her and one day change the King's perspective of her kind.

The horses began a trot as they entered the forest, the noise from their hooves causing Derews to peek out of various surviving trees.

Judson glanced at them and at their trees that still had cinders burning in some places, charred and breaking in others. A result of fire. He bowed his head and did not lift it for a long time.

On the eve of the sixth day, the bridge of Bridge came to view and Waverly hoped the Triad would not prove a bother in their attempt to cross but the creature seemed absent.

Her horse cantered up the broad slope behind Judson's and a familiar atmosphere, a sort of hushed silence fell over her. She looked behind and caught glimpse of Lord Edsel standing by the edge of the bridge.

Even with the distance, she could make out a defined cut that lined one side of his face. He was watching the pair with a disturbingly stern expression. With gritted teeth, he turned and faded.

When Waverly looked forward, Judson was staring at her. He seemed to have not seen Edsel or even noticed the deity's presence at all.

"Is everything alright?" He inquired.

Waverly paused for a long time, pondering the question.

"No. No, i do not think so." She replied and kept silent for the rest of their crossing.

The End.

The Night's Curse|
Book 03