Under the Crab-Apple Trees

“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently.” - Bill Watterson

Erin watched the stars above. They glinted at him like faraway dreams. Each told a different story of a different life.

“Hey,” Wren said, padding through the melting snow to come sit next to him.

It was now on the brink of spring, three weeks since the Dark King had been vanquished, yet Erin was still injured. Aria had almost died from the dark wave, she was lucky to have survived. Soon after the King was defeated, all of the wisps in his service had disappeared. A few hours after Erin fell into his coma, the rebels had stormed the castle and found the twins just in time. Fox had explained to Erin later that the King had been married to Erin’s grandmother, long before Fox was born.

“Pretty weird,” she said. “That I’m your step-aunt.” Then she had walked away smirking.

A cloud of unrest had settled over Erin. The screams that he had heard in the dream still haunted him, night after night they called for him. Then the images of Gükonük destroyed would flood his mind, then he would see Ingrid and her family fleeing an everlasting fire, again and again.

He would wake up in Croner to the bustle of the newfound capital, and the news of more and more towns and cities joining the young Republic. Occasionally, someone he knew would drop by to his small house to say hello.

Tyrannel had come. She had told him of the Lady’s funeral. Then her mother had come in and given Erin her formal apologies for the wrongdoing of the Lady’s arrest. Then Ardrieth had rushed everyone out of the room, saying that Erin needed sleep and rest for him to heal. All of this slipped by Erin quickly, before he again fell into his troubled sleep.

The day that he had been allowed to walk outside had been a good one. He was free to go where he wished, yet he still felt the watchful eyes of his friends on his back. Lark and Inyelen had come a few days ago, telling the tale of how the wisp controlled them. Erin did not believe them, even though everyone else seemed too. He sighed.

“Do I have to come back to the healing room?” he asked Wren, disappointed.

“No,” Wren said, giving his friend a pat on the back. “I just wanted to ask you if you’d like to go back to Ysterra. Maybe we could have a glass of Fizz Juice.” Erin smiled.

“I’d love to,” he said.

“I think Ela could give us a ride,” Wren said, smiled at him. “Feeling a bit better?”

“I’m starting to,” Erin said with a grin.

End Book 1