Page 125 of The Prince's Fealty

They looked… wary but not overly alarmed. Tama and Pel’s mother looked very relieved to see them.

Beluna looked like she was getting closer to believing the exiles were allies and not threats.

“We’ve brought supplies,” Tor told them. “We couldn’t bring them all on our own, so Bavex’s guards are assisting. They’ve all pledged not to attack unless attacked themselves.”

Pel’s mother stared at them for a long moment, and then she nodded. “That’s very thoughtful. We’ll show you where to go.”

Because there was, of course, actually a path. The exiles had been sneaking things over the mountain for years, after all.

Pel hadn’t been sure of quite what to expect, but his first view out onto the exiles’ land was… greener than he expected.

The clouds were still stormy, but it wasn’t actually raining.

“The worst of the rain had already stopped in the flood-prone areas by the time we got back,” Tama told them as they picked their way down the mountain. “And the driest areas are now getting regular rainfall. Two big storms blew out to sea instead of making landfall. It’s already better than it’s been in several years. The skeptics aren’t convinced, but the rest of us are hopeful.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Tor said, smiling at them. “But we’ve got some solutions even if the weather doesn’t improve. I’ll want to speak more about it with everyone, but the High King has agreed to support us, and so have all the other realms. These supplies are from Bavex, and he has promised more until we can get on our feet—even if there are those who don’t want to pledge their Fealty to me or anyone else. We can talk about rejoining the United Realms, or maybe just a trade agreement, or something in between. Everyone’s ready to make this better.”

Pel’s mother and Tama just stared at him for a moment, as though they couldn’t actually understand what he was saying, and then dawning smiles grew on their faces.

“That sounds wonderful,” Pel’s mother said.

It really did.

“Would you like a tour?” Tama asked.

“We want to see everything,” Tor agreed with a broad grin.

He held out his hand, and Pel twined their fingers together.

Pel knew this was the start of something wonderful. For all of them.

Epilogue

Tor

Four Years Later

“Save me, Daddy!”

A happily shrieking Shara, dark hair wildly blowing in the wind, raced past Tor before he could even consider rescuing her from her father, who was chasing after her across the grass-filled meadow.

One of Tor’s favorite things about parenthood—and there weremany—was how Pel was absolutely not the strict rule follower that they had both imagined before the most adorable baby in the entire world had been born. (She was tied with Cala, obviously. And Ada’s Frin. Actually, there was a lot of competition these days.)

Yes, Pel had to rein Tor and Shara in sometimes if they got a little too wild, but Tor was actuallynotthe one voted most likely to sneak an extra cookie to their baby girl.

Tor loved every minute of it.

Pel’s energy ran out before Shara’s, and he came to sit beside Tor, his hand on his stomach.

“Everything all right?”Tor asked.

Now that he’d been through it once, he understood why Var had gotten so anxious about Fernila’s first pregnancy. Pel was just past the three-month mark now, and Tor was filled with just as much joy and worry as last time.

Pel patted his knee. “Totally fine.”

Tor bit back the urge to ask Pel if he needed to see the healer. There was no reason he shouldn’t have as smooth a pregnancy this time as he had last time. Pel knew his own body very well, and he’d ask for help if he needed it.

Shara streaked past them again. This time she was being chased by Nur, Beluna and Cavun’s two-year-old. Nur’s chubby legs could absolutely not keep up with their baby girl’s speed, but since Shara didn’t actually want to outpace her chaser too much, she kept looking over her shoulder, giggling, and running in jagged lines and circles.