Sahara Ashdell: Rebirth of Patreek (Book 3)

“Look, Anglis.” Sahara points out of the large castle window toward the yellow field of flowers, as a red-haired youngling hugs her. “The flowers are in bloom.”

“Can we go pick some, mother?” Anglis asked hopefully.

“Of course we can.” Sahara says taking hold of her small hand to walk towards the exit of the castle.

“Good day, your Royal Highness.” A pixie says buzzing up to Anglis.

“Hi Asguta!” Anglis says excitedly. “We are going to pick flowers!”

“How fun!” Asguta replied.

“Let’s see if Aunt Trylla would like to go, yes?” Sahara asks bending down towards Anglis.

“Aunt Trylla!” Anglis yells as she runs down the hallway.

“I will be just outside, Elfie.” Sahara calls after Anglis. She takes a deep breath as she feels the sunshine caress her face. It is a beautiful day she thinks as she smiles at the sky. Moments later she hears laughter from inside the castle. “Are we ready?” Sahara asks playfully as she tickles the Anglis when she jumps into her arms.

“Aunt Trylla wants to come!” Anglis says cheerfully. “She said we needed to pick flowers for grandmama Nathila.”

“Grandmama would like that wouldn’t she?” Sahara says smiling up at Trylla. The three of them stroll through the bustling streets toward the fields of flowers greeting the elves, pixies, centaurs, and minotaurs as they pass by.

“For the Aranel.” A centaur says bowing toward the trio and handing the youngling a beautiful colorful cape with the Enceolaa crest on it.

“It is lovely!” Sahara says putting it on the youngling. “What do you say?” She says to Anglis.

“Thank you.” Anglis says as she laughs and begins to run around so that the cape flies behind her. “I can fly to the flowers mother!” She giggles running ahead of them towards the field.

“Brystol would not like her running off on her own like that.” Trylla says with a disapproving smile.

“He also would not like to see you flirting with that ellon.” Sahara says noticing Trylla looking flirtatiously toward an ellon pushing a cart of food.

“I am free to marry whom I wish since Anglis was born and pushes me back in line for the throne.” Trylla replies.

“I suppose you are.” Sahara says with a courteous nod toward the ellon who is obviously flirting back with Trylla.

“His name is Kolshua.” Trylla says as she blushes. “We may or may not have a date tomorrow.”

“And are there no young ellons of interest at Malorsty?” Sahara asked knowing the ellon was a few years older than Trylla.

“They are all so immature,” Trylla says. “I need an older ellon who is past all that.”

“As long as you are happy, that is all I care about Trylla.” Sahara says wrapping her left arm around Trylla as they continue down the cobble stone street.

“How many should we pick mother?” Anglis asks holding up two arms full of flowers as Trylla and Sahara arrive at the field.

“I think that will be more than enough.” Trylla laughed bending down to help Anglis from dropping all the flowers. The trio walked through the field toward an elf graveyard.

“My flowers are for daddy!” Anglis says excitedly running into the graveyard.

Sahara smiles as she sees Brystol run over and scoop Anglis up on her belly and fly her around in circles as if she is a superhero. “Where did you get this amazing cape?” He asks sitting her feet back down on the ground.

Six years ago:

As Patreek crumbles to the ground, Sahara’s vision suddenly blurs with tears. She runs over toward Tari Nathila as she falls toward the ground with Brystol’s sword by her side. “Mother!” Brystol cries reaching to catch his mother but she shatters to ashes. She had jumped in front of Brystol when Patreek lunged the sword toward him, protecting him from being stabbed.

“No.” Byrstol cries looking at the ashes in the palm of his hands. “Mother.”

Sahara falls to her knees in front of the pile of ashes and sees her tears fall onto the ashes. “We should have just teleported.” She says feeling at fault for Verdiwild and Tari Nathila’s death.

She hears a loud roar come from Brystol as the ground begins to shake, as if there was an earthquake. She looks up at him seeing his flamed eyes as his entire body bursts into flames. She feels fear as pulses of fire exit his body and travel through the ground engulfing all of Patreek’s followers. Sahara grasps her sword as she sees the distant hills surrounding them light up with flames and screams of pain. A moment later, the cheers of their own soldiers roar in triumph. As Sahara looks around, she notices Hexaria nodding toward her in exhaustion. There were pixies, centaurs, menotaurs, and all the mythical creatures she had seen at Holestroy mixed in with all of the elf soldiers.

“You knew Patreek was attacking today. Didn’t you?” Sahara says standing to her feet as Threvoyn bows to her.

“Your parents foretold of the event.” He says holding his side which is obviously wounded.

“That is why my mother wanted to see me today.” She says looking down at her sword before looking over at Brystol. “You knew too?”

Brystol shakes his head in denial as he stands to his feet. “I didn’t.”

Threvoyn raises his sword into the air as he falls to his knees. The other creatures follow his lead and fall to their knees raising their weapons into the air. Sahara turns seeing everyone surrounding them and bowing their heads to Brystol and herself. “Yachantale”, the soldiers all say toward them. Sahara remembers how everyone used to say that to her when she first arrived from the human world. It meant Thank you for your sacrifice. But she wasn’t sure why they were saying it.

“We gave up our wedding night and both lost our parents to save our world.” Brystol explains to her what they mean as he slides his hand into hers.

Back to present time:

“Yachantale.” Sahara says laying the flowers down on the tombstone of Tari Nathila.

“Mother come catch me!” Anglis calls toward Sahara and she happily joins them as they run around playing tag.

Brystol catches Sahara, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Happy Anniversary.” He says turning her to face him.

“Happy Anniversary.” She replies before kissing his lips.