Thor closed his eyes and summoned the universe to extract the blade from his chest.
Suddenly the dagger popped out, and Andronicus stepped back, holding it, looking shocked. Thor used the energy of the air to heal his wound, to stop the blood. As he closed his eyes he placed his palms over his chest, his hands glowing with unreal power and heat, and as he moved them away, his wound was completely healed.
Andronicus stared back, open-mouthed in shock.
Thor raised the Destiny Sword once again, and this time, he stuck it in the ground beside him, letting it go. For the first time, he realized he did not need it. He was more sorcerer than human. He was a Druid after all. He had the power of the entire universe at his fingertips, and that was more powerful than any piece of steel.
“I don’t need a sword to kill you, Father. I need only the power of my mind. You exist in the deepest levels of my mind. Aside from that, you’re powerless.”
Thor then aimed a single palm at his father, and as he did, a ball of light shot through it, engulfing him. Andronicus shouted as he flew backwards through the air, the shout fading as he went farther and farther away, at the speed of light, flying to the horizon, before he finally disappeared completely.
As Thor stood there in the stillness, suddenly the fog all around him lifted. The skies opened up, the sun came through, and slowly, the landscape before him transformed. The mud transformed into grass, bright, shiny, vibrant grass, the dead trees blossomed, and birds arrived, singing. Winter turned to summer, desolation to bounty.
As Thor looked to the horizon, he no longer saw emptiness. Instead, he saw, in the distance, a castle, perched on the edge of a cliff, a great walkway leading to it.
He felt his heart pounding as he recognized the place of his dreams as he knew, he just knew, that his mother lay on the road before him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Alistair walked side-by-side with Erec’s mother, their arms locked, Erec’s mother smiling as they wound their way along the copper-lined walkways on the edge of the cliffs. Alistair had been overcome by how kind his mother had been to him, so gracious, taking her in as if she were her own daughter. Alistair had never met her mother, and had always wanted a mother in her life—and in the short time she’d spent with Erec’s mom, she already realized how great it could be. A part of her felt complete that had not before.
As they walked, a dozen attendants following them, fanning the Queen, they reached the edge of a plateau, demarcated by a high copper railing, and Alistair looked out, awestruck at the view. It was as if the whole world were spread out below them. In the valleys below Alistair saw thousands of dwellings, most shining with copper roofs, like a thousand points of light reflecting the sun. The islands were so fertile, despite their mountainous terrain, vineyards planted on cliffs, on hills, orchards of overripe fruit blossoming everywhere, adding color to the skyline, clinging to life on the steep terrain. The smell of their pungent flowers hung heavy in the air.
“It is one of the high points of the island,” Erec’s mother said softly beside her, looking out herself. “From up here you can see the entire capital, and even the villages hugging the shoreline. You can also see parts of the Tatrazen, where the great fog lingers in the valley.”
Alistair followed her finger and saw, down below, beautiful villages built along the shoreline, hovering over the white sands, green and blue waters crashing against them. A mist hung over the islands, and the air was the freshest she’d ever breathed, filled with the smell of ocean and orange blossoms. The sun shone so strongly here, she felt its caress, its rays warming her whole body.
Alistair felt tucked in here, deeply at rest in this place. She was surprised. She had expected to feel disoriented in the new terrain, to miss the Ring; yet for some reason, here in the Southern Isles she felt more at home than she’d ever had.
“Your island is beautiful,” Alistair said. “Thank you for your graciousness.”
Erec’s mother smiled wide and wrapped an arm around Alistair’s shoulder, hugging her.
“You are Erec’s beloved,” she said, “which means you are a daughter to me. I will always love you, as he loves you. You can come to me with anything.”
Alistair smiled, feeling so good to be embraced by a mother for the first time in her life. She felt loved here, and her love for Erec, if possible, felt even stronger.
“Are you ready for the sacred water?” she asked.
Alistair looked at her, puzzled.
“What is that?” she asked.
Her mother pointed.
Alistair turned and saw, near the edge of the cliff, a wide hole in the smooth marble, in which was a bubbling spring, steam rising from it. Inside it sat Erec’s sister, Dauphine, her back to them, her head resting against the stone and her arms spread out as she looked out over the endless vistas of the island.
“It is the custom of the women here to immerse themselves weekly in the waters. They are very relaxing, and they are said to have purifying elements. A bride will always immerse herself the day before her wedding. It is said to bring good luck.”
Alistair looked at her, wide-eyed, wondering if she heard correctly.
His mother nodded back.
“That’s right. Tomorrow you will be wed.”
Alistair’s heart suddenly started to pound.
“ Tomorrow!? ” Alistair said, flummoxed. “But I haven’t even had time to…I haven’t even prepared…”
His mother smiled and held out a hand.
“Do not worry,” she said. “Your dresses have been prepared. There is a wide selection for you to choose from, as well as the finest royal jewels in our vault. Our people have been preparing for this for moons. It will be the most spectacular wedding you’ve ever seen.”
Alistair was flabbergasted. On the one hand, she was delighted to actually be getting married to Erec; but then again, she had no idea this was coming so soon, and she hadn’t even had time to mentally prepare for the biggest day of her life.
“But why so sudden?” Alistair asked. “Shouldn’t I have helped to prepare?”
Erec’s mother shook her head.
“We here on the Southern Islands have superstitions around weddings. We believe they must take place immediately. It is our custom that when a bride is proposed to, she is wed immediately. We are a people that does not delay, that follows through instantly with what we pledge. It is one of many customs and peculiarities you’ll come to learn about us. I hope it does not offend you?”