Chapter 12 Sent
Janner and Esben sat together for a long while, enjoying to the fullest the time they had together. When the sun started rising again, Esben and Janner steered the boat back to shore. When they got close to the dock, Janner saw a group of people standing there, along with what looked like a horse sized dog.
“Is that…” Janner’s question trailed off as he looked more intently over the water.
“It sure is,” Esben replied happily. Janner grinned and leaned over the edge of the boat, waving to the people on the dock. They began waving back, and a thunderous bark shook the air.
“Faster, Papa!” Janner cried, eager to get to shore. As soon as he felt the boat clunk against the dock, Janner ran toward the group of people. The first to reach him was Nugget, who came bounding over the dock, and the rest followed close behind.
“Haha! Nugget! Stop! Stop, boy!” Janner shouted as Nugget knocked him to the floor and began licking him all over. Nugget sat down with a thump that shook the dock and looked at Janner happily, head cocked. Janner laughed and scratched Nugget behind the ears. Then he was overwhelmed by a hundred hugs and a crush of people around him. He felt himself squeezed into Podo’s bear hug.
“Oy, me lad! I missed ye! That sure was something’ back there, what ye did in Anniera! Yer Grandma and I are proud of ye.”
“Grandma?” Janner asked. Then he felt someone’s warm kiss on his forehead and turned around to see his Grandma ruffling his hair.
“Janner! How you’ve grown!” She said. Janner realized how much she looked like Nia and Leeli. Then he felt someone’s hand thumping him on the back and turned again to see Rudrick.
“Well done lad!” Rudrick said. They all stood smiling, and Janner looked at them all happily. Podo had hair on the top of his head again, and it was a rich, dark brown, so brown it was almost black. He also had both legs again. Wendolyn looked so young and happy. She looked like an older version of Leeli, mixed in with Nia. Rudric looked younger too. His beard was thicker, if that was even possible, and the care lines on his face were gone. They all smiled back at him, and along with Esben, walked back to the Garden where Janner had walked with the Maker. They talked and laughed, glad to be together. Suddenly, they all got quiet. Janner felt the now familiar but still exhilarating thrill in his bones that meant the Maker was nearby. He saw that the others felt it too. They all turned around and saw the Maker walking out of the Garden. The company knelt and bowed their heads to their King until he bid them rise. The Maker reached out a hand to Janner and suddenly it was as if the two of them were alone. Janner looked around and saw as if from a distance, his father and grandparents talking together, with Nugget rolling in the grass behind them. Janner looked in awe at the Maker.
“My son, you have done well. Your sacrifice changed your world.”
Janner did not speak, but only soaked up the Maker’s wonderful presence.
“ Janner, your mission is not over yet. Your family needs you. Especially your brother.” Janner looked up at the Maker in slight confusion. Then understanding entered his eyes and he asked,
“Does he feel guilty for what happened?”
“He did,” the Maker responded. “And Artham still does. Part of this journey will be his healing.” Janner nodded as he thought of all that Artham had been through. Janner’s death would only make him feel worse.
“He came from across the sea and arrived in Anniera moments after you passed. He knows that what you did was right, but the knowledge is buried and forgotten right now. He has some very old, very deep wounds in his heart. My purpose for him is healing.”
“Are you sending me back?” Janner asked softly.
“Yes, my son,” If Janner had still been in Aerwiar, if he had still been his old self, he would have felt the voices of selfishness and frustration and disappointment, but as it was, he only felt peace. He trusted the Maker and knew that whatever He planned would be right.
“Does Papa already know?”
“Yes, my son. All of them have known this whole time.”
“Thank you. Thank you for letting me be with them. When am I going back?”
“Very soon. You have been gone from your world for three days. Your family has brought you to the First Well in the hopes of bringing you back. Before you leave the Well, fill three flasks. One you shall give to Keeper Clout, to heal the wounded Hollowsfolk. Another, you shall put into the spring at the source of the river Rysen. It will heal the Shining Isle. The last you shall keep safe in the Castle for emergencies. After you leave, the Well will be hidden forever.” After a moment of silence, Janner saw a swirl of light. Suddenly, he and the Maker were back in the midst of Janner’s family. They grew solemn as they realized what was about to happen. They each had a final message for Janner, and a big hug, even Rudric and Nugget. Janner felt happy and whole. When he came to Esben, his father’s face looked like he missed Janner again already. Esben looked up at the Maker.
“May I send some messages back to my family through Janner, please?” He asked.
“Of course, my son.” Esben smiled as he realized what a privilege this was. Rudric, Nugget and Janner’s grandparents looked at each other meaningfully and walked off a short distance to give Esben and Janner some privacy. Esben took a deep breath.
“Tell Nia that even if I spoke for a thousand years, I couldn’t describe the fullness of my love for her. I have seen everything she has done and she is the greatest queen ever to walk the Shining Isle, and that I eagerly await the day we will be together again.
“Tell Leeli, my dear, beautiful Leeli, that I have seen her strength and her power. Her music and her heart are some of the most beautiful things in Aerwiar. Tell her to keep using her gifts for good, and that I love her deeply.
“Tell Kal,” Esben paused, trying to sum up everything he had learned as a King for his son.
“Tell him that I believe he will be a great King, greater than I ever was, If he will only trust and obey the Maker, and love him. I want him to know that I am so proud of him.
“Tell Artham…” Esben paused again. He had been with Artham in Throg, and seen how much he had endured. He knew Artham’s suffering better than any other Wingfeather. He had wandered in the Blackwood, and knew that Artham had done the same, and on top of all that, he knew what a Throne Warden was like. How he would feel a sting every time his brother was hurt or let down in the slightest, then heap double the guilt and hurt upon himself for not protecting his brother.
“Tell Artham that I still love him. Tell him that I don’t blame him at all for anything that happened, from the fall of Rysen to my death. I don’t blame him. He has been the best Throne Warden a brother could hope for. Also, thank you for the song. Tell him to drink the Water. I know why he hasn’t all these years. It’s because he was trying to get it to me. He didn’t feel worthy. Tell him that I’m healed now, and happy. I’m better than I ever have been my whole life, and now it’s his turn. Tell him that I love him with everything in me.”
“I will, Papa.” Janner and his father shared a final long hug. The rest of the people came closer when they realized Esben and Janner were done talking. They all had hopeful, proud smiles on their faces. The Maker came close again, motioning to Janner.
“Go on, my son. I love you,” Esben whispered into Janner’s hair just before letting him go from the embrace. Janner walked toward the Maker who was a few paces away, his heart quickening. The Maker smiled and told Janner,
“Your mission is not over yet, Janner Wingfeather. Go and stand by the King’s side again.” The Maker laid a hand on Janner’s head and another on his chest, right over his heart. Janner gasped at the sensation of living light running through his being.
“Rise, Janner Wingfeather, and live once more!” The Maker’s voice was as powerful as a thunderclap or a huge wave crashing down onto the water. Janner felt like a living fire was rushing through his bones and his soul, but it caused no pain, only an amazing, indescribable thrill. It was like the power of Leeli’s music or a dragon’s thoughts, but so much more, because it came from the Maker. Janner saw a blinding flash of light, and as the warm glow of the Maker’s country faded to blackness, the words,
“Stand by the King’s side again,” faded to the Throne Warden’s refrain. Protect. Protect. Protect. Then even that faded to black silence.
Next chapter is here