“He loves her,” Amber said.
“I know,” Miro said. “And she loves him too.”
“It’s about time.” The third person on the bench spoke in a rough, gravelly voice. “She’s going to kill me when she finds out. Was it really necessary?”
“If that wound couldn’t kill you, then you’ve got nothing to fear from my sister,” Miro said, grinning. “We all agreed to it, but it was my idea. Trust me, if anyone needs a push, it’s her.”
“And the proof is right there in front of us,” said Amber.
Miro and his two companions watched the lovers in silence as each of them thought their own private thoughts. Miro considered how far they’d all come. He thought about all the friends he’d lost, but also the friends he wouldn’t have made without the wars. Creation followed destruction in the strangest ways.
Miro wondered what was next for Ella. That was for her to decide. He knew where his home was.
“I’m thinking about Tomas,” Amber said. “I miss my son.”
“Me too,” Miro said.
Miro returned his gaze back to Seranthia’s harbor. There would be a lot of work to do when he arrived back in Altura, but compared to worrying about defenses, rebuilding his homeland was a task he relished.
He would pour every resource into restoring Castlemere and Schalberg to their former selves. He would help the Veldrins find their way home.
But most of all, he would spend time with his family. Miro and Ella had both grown up as orphans. Amber and Tomas were Miro’s chance for a fresh start.
Miro’s vision returned to his sister and her love. They didn’t look like they would be moving for a long, long time.
“How do you think you’ll like retirement?” Miro asked.
“Like it?” Rogan said. “Nothing will give me greater pleasure than spending my days fishing on the Sarsen.”
“Or dropping by the Pens to offer some advice,” Amber smiled.
Rogan snorted. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go home.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing the Evermen Saga. It’s been an incredible journey, and like the characters in my books I’ve been fortunate to make some friends along the way.
Huge thanks go to my editor, Emilie, and the team at 47North, for excellent guidance, support, and assistance with every aspect of development and publication. Thank you also David for believing in me.
Thanks go to Mike for tireless efforts developing the manuscript, and Mark and Peta for all your help with the tough parts.
Most of all, in this, the last book in the series, I wish to highlight that none of this would have been possible without the readers who supported me from the beginning. Without you, Enchantress would still be gathering silicon dust on a hard disk and the relic would still be hidden.
Thanks to all of you who’ve reached out to me and taken the time to post reviews of my books.
My final thanks I reserve for my wife, Alicia.
I will be ever grateful for your constant support.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Maxwell found inspiration growing up in the lush forests of New Zealand, and later in rugged Australia where he was educated. Devouring fantasy and science fiction classics at an early age, his love for books translated to a passion for writing, which he began at age 11.
He relocated to London at age 25, but continued to seek inspiration wherever he could find it, in the grand cities of the old world and the monuments of fallen empires. His travels influenced his writing as he spent varying amounts of time in forty countries on six continents.
He wrote his first full-length novel, Enchantress, while living on an isle in Thailand and its sequel, The Hidden Relic, from a coastal town on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.
The third book in the Evermen Saga, The Path of the Storm, was written in the Austrian Alps, and he completed the fourth, The Lore of the Evermen, in Malta.
When he isn’t writing or traveling, James enjoys sailing, snowboarding, classical guitar, and French cooking.