Chapter 38: Chapter 38

While Selvin’s battered and broken body hung limply from the pole in the dirt floor basement, the thunder trailed off into the night. Ben wiped his bloody hands on a towel as wiped the sweat from his chin onto his shoulder. “Anybody want seconds on this old piece of shit?”

Thorin shook his head. “No, I’m tired of seeing his ugly face. Let’s be done with this. She’s waiting.”

Haldir pulled on a clean shirt and sniffed through his nose. “I agree. This has been fun and all, but we have a long journey ahead of us.”

“Alright.” Ben pulled his knife from the sheath on his waist, then slid his hand into Selvin’s hair and lifted his head until their eyes met. “Now, I get to go be with my wife and daughter, and there’s not a fucking thing you can do about it anymore.” He slapped the blade against Selvin’s forehead and raised his eyebrows. “I told you I was going to kill you, asshole.”

The knife glided through Selvin’s neck so easily, and it made Ben shudder as he wiped the blade off on the dead man’s shirt. Knowing how quickly this could have ended if he’d been ready was guilt that he could never shake off.

As he looked around at the blood-soaked floor, Thorin rubbed the back of his head. “What do you reckon we should do about this? We can hardly leave three dead bodies behind for the humans to find. I don’t think the council would take kindly to that.”

Haldir pulled on his beard and nodded. “We’ll burn it when we leave. By the time the firemen come, the place will be leveled.”

After he closed the tie on his backpack, Ben slung it over his shoulder, then reached back with his other arm and threaded it through the strap. As he centered it on his back, his eyes made one last sweep around the guest house.

Peeking up from the playpen, Mr. Rabbit held his arms out wide, and Ben gave him a sniff before he pushed him into the inner pocket of his coat near his heart. The stack of photos Imara kept on the counter in a Ziploc bag was staring back at him as he passed through the kitchen, and he skimmed his hand across the smooth ceramic tile to claim them. He pressed his lips against the plastic-covered photo of Imara holding Eliza and tucked the bag in his other chest pocket.

On the way out of the living room, he yanked the blanket Imara knitted from the couch and paused at the door. “Gone with the wind.” His eyes dropped to the thick book on the entryway table, and his fingers tapped on the cover before he wrapped his hand around it.

As he met Haldir and Thorin in the yard, Ben pulled the dark knit hat Imara made him over his head and tucked in his ears. Ben slid the book in his waist pocket, then slung the blanket over his shoulders and tucked it into the bag straps to secure it. Thorin handed him Imara’s knife, and Ben shook his head as it pushed it into its sheath. “She never had a chance, even with this.”

“No, Ben, she didn’t. Imara could never hurt a soul. Not even one as black as Selvin’s. You had to save her, only you.” Thorin laid his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “You saved their souls, Ben.”

Ben nodded as fat tears dropped to the ground. “So, are we ready?”

Thorin sniffed and wiped his cheeks as he looked back over the house. “Yes, I suppose we are. And you know what? I’m not even going to miss it. I’m tired of this ugly, old world.”

Ben shook his head. “Me neither.” He pressed his finger to his mouth. “Shh!” As flames erupted from the kitchen, Ben turned to the guest house and wiggled his fingers.

The air around them sizzled as the flames consumed the homes, and as the fire reflected off Haldir’s pale eyes, he blinked away to Ben. “No wonder he’s so eager to collect you.”

Ben closed his eyes and saw Imara walk through the gates of the city in the woods. As she got to the other side, she looked back over her shoulder and smiled as she pushed the windblown hair from her face. ‘I’m home, Ben.’ His head bowed to the vision, and his shoulders bounced up and down. “He’s going to have to wait. I got to see my girl first.”

Haldir motioned to Thorin to come closer with his hand. “Let’s go.”

With one hand on Ben’s shoulder, Haldir grabbed hold of Thorin’s arm, and the dark mist rose from his feet.

They reappeared outside a great tall castle in a valley surrounded by snowcapped mountains. On the Northern border sat the entrance to a dense, dark forest.

Stepping from the mist that surrounded them, Haldir motioned with his head to follow. “This is the kingdom of Eliphas the Wise. He’s the gatekeeper for departed spirits to enter the Realm. Imara would have come here first.”

As the three men approached the fortress’s tall glass doors, the doors parted, and an elderly man with a long white beard stood before them. “Welcome, Haldir. I’ve been expecting you. Daniel said that you would be on your way.”

With a quick tip of his head, Haldir placed his hand over his heart. “Your Majesty.”

Eliphas’ hands clasped before him as his long, white eyebrows rose. “You are here seeking the Lady of Light?”

After he shut his eyes, a smile rose through the Viking’s beard. “Do you know where she’s made off to?”

Eliphas narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. “Yes, of course. You can find her in the city in the North Woods. She is under the protection of Lord Nicholas now.”

More than a little eager to start on his journey, Ben pushed Haldir aside for Eliphas’ attention. “How far is that?”

Eliphas shrugged his shoulders and pushed out his lips. “Nearly three weeks as the crow flies.”

“Three weeks?” Ben’s heart sank as he rolled his eyes away. “Dammit.”

The old King rarely left the halls of his home, and he slid his hands up his sleeves to fight off the cool, fresh air. “Yes, Ben Logan. You didn’t really think this would be easy, did you?”

Ben chewed on the inside of his cheek as he nodded and glanced back at the path leading into the woods. “Yeah, I was kind of hoping it would be for once. Can we mist there?”

Haldir shook his head as he faced Ben. “I’ve never been that far North before.”

Eliphas inched further away from them, and the tall doors began to shut. “Fortunately for you, Daniel the Darke has already made arrangements. Once you reach his lands, he will escort you to the North.”

Before the doors shut in front of them, Haldir peeked through the quickly closing space. “Thank you, Your majesty.”