Chapter 34

He saw some of them walk past him. Mostly they were still dazed and shaken, and for the most part they paid him little heed as they stumbled or ambled by. But he was not as interested in the people walking by, although some part of him told him he should be.

He was a proud father watching his daughter; other worries and responsibilities could wait just a few minutes more, right? People down there were deferring to her. She was issuing instructions, and people were helping her, working with her. It all looked so natural, so right. How long have I been holding her back? he asked himself. What could she have been by now if only I hadn't denied her?

And as much as he was proud of her he felt guilty and ashamed of himself. He might as well have locked her in the house...but she was outside now, and it's where she belonged to be. Now he found himself wondering how to tell her to leave this little town, that a flower needs sunlight to bloom, and that she would never get that here.

He looked down at his lap. His hands rested idly there, too heavy to lift just then. The blanket didn't sit right. There was that flat empty space where a leg should be.

As much as he knew Lynna had to leave, he knew he would never be able to. She was right, dammit. He had other children here, and he could not just leave. His heart was here along with his home, and his soul was here too.

When he had left home last time, when he ended up here, he had been able to comfort himself that he was leaving on his own two feet. That was never going to happen again. Now to leave he would have to be carried out. No, you're not getting rid of me that easily.

Avern realized that Lynna was right - they would not have survived at all if he hadn't paid attention to Agmar's warnings. He thought back to that morning, and the discussions about adding a larger dry dock in the harbor and enhancements they could make to the market square seemed irrelevent now. Just those few days ago, he'd sat there as Bruckert Tallet had proudly told them of his daughter Allison's engagement to Earnest Leek. Avern wondered sadly if Earnest had survived, and if he knew that Allison had burned with her father and the others that hadn't been able to get out of Warehouse C in time. So many dead. So many friends gone... No matter how hard his daughter worked to heal the wounded and save the dying, there were still far fewer than he had expected walking away from this.

One person had reported that those at the Greyton Warehouse had nearly all perished as well. They'd been locked inside, and though they didn't burn, the objects they had brought with them had proven deady. Only a few had managed to escape with their lives. Those at Mary's inn had suffered terribly as well. He didn't know how he was going to tell her that more than half of the girls who worked there had died, including the young woman who'd recently given birth. He'd been informed that the child had survived, however, the mother having died protecting it. He looked over at Mr. Tarrence, the schoolmaster, as he crossed names off the thick copy of the lists that he'd made up for Avern that someone had retrieved from the study inside. The man had a bandage wrapped across his forehead and another wrapped around his left arm, and his face looked graver with each name he put a line through. So many gone... Avern found himself overwhelmed and put his head in his hands, trying to keep himself from weeping. A hand squeezed his shoulder and he heard the sound of wood on wood as a chair was placed next to his. He looked up to see Mary sitting down on it.

"I've been offically ordered to rest and watch over you, by both Margaret and Lynna at this point. Someone was gracious enough to lug this chair down from the attic. I think I'd better use it before the two of them gang up on me next." She gave him a smile, though he could tell there was as much sadness in her eyes as he knew must be in his own. "How are you holding up?" she asked him.

He sighed heavily before answering, and she nodded in silent agreement, giving his hand a squeeze this time.

"Mary, I should tell you, I have news from your inn..." he trailed off as she put up a hand to stop him.

"I already know," she replied, somberly.

"If you would rather be there, I'd understand," he told her. "Your strength could help those who've survived get through this."

"I think whatever strength I have left is best used here, Avern," she told him. "Besides, I don't think I could bear being that far away from you again just now." He saw her eyes well up and a tear roll down her cheek.

He put his hand on top of hers, not knowing which of them was supposed to be comforted more by the gesture. She put her other hand on top of his, and for a moment they just sat there.

"I don't know what I'm going to do next, Avern," she said heavily.

"What do you mean?"

"My inn. I feel like I've failed so many people. I spent so much time not there...I just know some people are going to think if I'd been there more maybe I could have--"

"Could have what? You and I aren't the heroes here, Mary. We're not the ones. We both failed people, but we also both made a difference. We did everything we could, and no one should blame us for that. Not even us," he added.

"But I know what you'll do, Mary, because it's what we're all going to do. You're going to go back and get the place cleaned up. You'll help your girls get back to where they were. We'll all clean up and rebuild. It's what this town does. We pull together. It also means you won't have to do it alone."

He looked away from her for a moment, wanting to look at the town. He saw Genla coming with some of Mary's girls in tow. He turned back to Mary, who was still looking at him. He wanted to say something about Genla coming, but he decided that she'd smile more warmly when they came running up to see her.

"Mary! Thank the gods you're alright!" Genla called out, running forward. Avern smiled, pleased with himself. Sometimes he really did know this town that well. Just as he expected, Genla and the girls came running up for a round of hugs.

"When you didn't come back we feared the worst, but hoped you'd be here, 'cause this is where the wounded were being brought. I tried, Mary, I so tried, but I couldn't save them all." Genla began weeping, and Mary stood up and hugged her. The girls all joined in as well.

Avern felt out of place and awkward. Normally he would have gotten up and taken the few steps to the other end of the porch, letting them have their moment together. But he couldn't do that, so he sat, feeling trapped, frowning at how many things would never be the same. He turned and looked away, not sure if he would be able to keep a tear back. Mayors weren't supposed to cry.

"Well, you're not without bloodstains, but at least it looks as if you've managed to keep this dress mostly in one piece," he heard Genla saying. "Sit back down, Mary, you're positively trembling." He managed to compose himself again before turning back. Mary returned to her spot on the chair next to him.

"Mister Mayor," Genla gave him a smile and a nod that suggested the woman knew about Mary's feelings for Avern. "Good to see you're still with us too sir."

"Thank you, Genla," he replied, giving the woman a smile.

"Mary, could you hold her?" one of the girls asked, holding out a small bundle of squirming blankets. "We were thinking we could help with getting people back inside. It really looks like the weather might finally change and rain."

"Of course," Mary answered, gingerly taking the bundle from the girl. "Did Aleena have a chance to name her? I never had the chance to ask."

"Yes, actually. She said she named her Magdeline, after your middle name. Maggie for short. She said that naming her Mary would have gotten too complicated around the inn, and hoped you wouldn't mind her using your middle name instead."

Avern watched Mary's mouth drop open and her face flush. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

"Mind?! I'm honored!" she said, her voice loaded with emotion. She peered in, moving blanket edges back so she could see the infant girl's face more clearly. "Hello there, little Maggie."

Avern knew without having to ask that the mother was gone. There were going to be more orphans, and there would be parents saying goodbye to children. He looked away again.

People were gathering on the ground that had been littered with bodies not so long ago. Mostly they stood, milling about. He saw people finding each other and hugging, relieved to find a friend or relative alive. He could see a lot of crying, as well.

Stuck in his chair he felt weak and powerless. He wanted to be down there, hugging and reassuring and comforting. But he was stuck. He sat and looked out at the people of his town while Mary cooed at the tiny newborn.

Avern made himself look at it. As he looked at her, he realized she did not represent failure to him like he thought she might at first. Instead she was the future. She looked up at the world with blue eyes that weren't filled with terror and loss.

"I think we're going to be alright," he said.

"Yes, we will," Mary agreed. "Not the same, but maybe even stronger for it."

"I wish there was a better place to gather, though. Rather a bloody and gory place for a town gathering."

"The town has seen a lot of blood, has it not?" Agmar asked from the doorway behind him. "But look beyond the blood and faces, and see what is beginning."

Avern look around, confused, and at first saw nothing. Then he saw the handcart of straw that was being brought from a barn somewhere. It was scattered over the grass just as they always did when they had needed to gather after a spring rain. In the streets people were cleaning up debris. One of Bruckert Tallet's dock boys was even starting to wash the porch.

"What...?"

"Quite a town you have here, Mister Mordan. They cannot safely sleep yet, but they know they are better off with something to occupy them. It seems already the rebuilding has begun. The evil has been defeated here, Avern."

"It's over then," Avern sighed with relief.

"I have taken care of the remaining fires and it hasn't the power left to start more. There will be small instances where it tries to control the unconscious, but people are gathering bits of rope to bind them now that it is safe to do so again. It knows there is little use, however. It may not even bother once it realizes it will not generate further fear or anger here. Those who have survived are tired of letting it hurt them now, and they know what it wants. It has no foothold. We will need to keep our guard up, but I do not expect to see more trouble here. It needs to rebuild its strength to try again in the next populated area it reaches."

"Gods help them," Mary said quietly, her eyes also scanning the people putting themselves to work in the yard.

"Perhaps they will. My next stop is a temple, actually."

Avern found himself startled to hear that.

"To which god?" he asked. Temples were always to specific deities, never to gods in general.

"Tarek'nen. Your god of daylight, the way I understand it. Although some see him more as a god of heroes as well, apparently. I have not studied all of the religions here, so I am not familiar with all of the lore behind it."

"I am not sure either," Avern admitted. "Though we pray to the gods in general here, we tend to favor Arilless, mother of the seas and oceans. There's always been a lot of fishermen about and much of our trade has depended on the sea."

He saw Agmar nod, having stepped forward to lean against one of the pillars. He could see the man thinking as he surveyed the scene before them. He did not envy the man the job ahead of him. How many will he have to watch die as he continues to try and fight this evil? It suddenly occurred to him that Lynna might choose to go with the wizard, to help him. His eyes moved again to his daughter. How many will she be able to save? How many will die in her arms? He tried to steel his heart, knowing the choice of where she went was no longer in his hands.

"Lynna..." he said quietly, not knowing how to really say all that he was wanting to. "She needs to move on from this town now. She's outgrown it."

"I agree," Agmar said. His face was blank of emotion, but Avern could see that he was watching Lynna too. "She has already come very far in a short period of time."

"The choice is hers to make though," Avern said. "But if she should decide to... to continue on with you..." his words got lost in his throat somewhere and failed to reach his lips.

"She is welcome to, if that is what she truely wants, and I will teach her what I can." He turned and levelled his eyes at Avern. "I cannot guarantee her safety, Avern. I will do what I can for her, but I can make no promises other than I will try to keep her safe. In the end, however, I expect it will be Stott who will be her protector."

"You think he will follow her?" Avern found himself hoping Agmar was right. He liked the boy, especially seeing that Stott rarely strayed far from Lynna's side even now that the biggest dangers were past.

"That boy was not meant for this town. His family is lost, so there is little reason left for him to stay. And he loves her. I doubt it will be a difficult choice for him, although he has not realized yet that he will need to make it. I believe Yilmack will be willing to train him in sword as well."

"Who is Yilmack exactly? He's made a presence of himself recently," Mary commented.

"He is involved in this. More I should not say at this time. The evil is still listening you know."

"I couldn't even tell you when he came into town. Funny though, you'd think he looks distinctive enough to be noticed," Avern commented. It occurred to him that Yilmack was nowhere to be seen. Odd...

"He arrived before I did, and he came here to help. Perhaps the rest is not that important."

"So at wizard school they have a class about how to be cryptic, right?" Mary teased.

"Hardly. The more secrets you learn the more you realize how little you truly know."

"So," Avern said after a pause, "what's going to come of Lynna? Is she going to become some great wizard and travel the world? Will I ever see her again? Will she be able to send word of how she is?"

"No one can see the future, Mister Mordan, but one can make reasonable estimates. She will never be one of the strongest, if that is what you mean. But if anything were to earn her a place in history it would be her heart and character.

"I think she is not done helping me with the evil, which will strike many places yet. So some of the world I think she will travel. But Eagle's Harbor is her home. It is in her blood. I do not doubt she will return here. Older and wiser, perhaps, but no less welcomed, I suspect."

Lynna came walking across the straw on the lawn towards them, Stott following. They let the conversation drop. Stott yawned, and Avern could see the exhaustion marking Lynna's face. She perked up when she saw him, and he smiled back, his heart filled just seeing her safe. He did not know how he would manage to say goodbye.

"I just heard the most wonderful rumor that there are sandwiches being made in the kitchen of this very building," Lynna said as she came up to them. "And since I think I've gotten all the critical wounds I can find under control, I think I can stop for a few minutes and fix the gnawing ache in my stomach finally. I'm starving!"

"I'll see what I can grab for us," Stott laughed as he headed past them all and into the inn. Lynna flopped down on the stairs of the porch next to Avern's chair and yawned.

"Are there still more coming Agmar? Or have all the really wounded people been healed by one of us now?"

"There are a few more coming that could use healing, but are not in danger of dying from their wounds as of yet. We have dealt with the difficult cases already," Agmar nodded at her. "Well done, Lynna."

Lynna looked caught off guard by the compliment.

"I agree. I'm proud of you sweetie." Avern leaned over enough and ruffled her hair for a moment, watching her blush under the sudden scrutiny. "You really came through for those who needed you."

Her eyes dropped to the area where his missing leg would have been under the blanket, and her complexion paled.

"Not always."

He took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up towards him, seeing her eyes fill with tears.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me father... I -"

"Don't," he said sternly. "You were there when I needed you the most, when I was ready to give up. You couldn't be everywhere at once, and I know you were wounded at the point I was headed to the schoolhouse. You couldn't have helped me then, but you were there to save my life."

She stood up and hugged him and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. For a moment he was reluctant to let go, wondering just how many times he would have to hold her before she was gone. The baby in Mary's arms started wailing suddenly, breaking the quiet moment, and Lynna turned her attention next to the infant.

"That's Aleena's baby," she said, peering into the blankets in Mary's lap.

"Aleena didn't make it," Mary said. "The baby's name is Maggie."

"She misses her mother. And she's hungry," Lynna stated. Mary looked at her in surprise.

"You can talk to her?"

"I can listen. She's too little to understand words, but she has these images in her mind of what she wants. We'll have to find one of the mothers who did make it and see if they will be willing to nurse her too. Who's going to take care of her?"

"I will," Mary answered immediately. Avern saw her suddenly pale and then turn towards him. "I mean, I'd like to. But if that's... I don't know if..."

Avern put up a hand and she trailed off, looking worried.

"We will take care of little Maggie. That is, if Mary is at all interested in having a run-down, slightly-used, one-legged mayor as her husband?" He said the last part somewhat rushed, having not been sure he was going to say it until the words started coming out of his mouth. After he'd finished, he found himself holding his breath, waiting for her to say something. There was a long pause that was almost unbearable.

"Is that mayor sure that he's interested in... me?"

"Absolutely."

"Lynna?" she turned to look at Lynna, and Avern could see that Mary was the one holding her breath this time.

"Absolutely," Lynna grinned, mimicking her father a little in the way she said it.

"So?" he asked, as Mary turned back towards him. "Mary Magdeline Stewart, will you marry me?" He already knew the answer as he looked in her eyes. Her hair was an unruly mess, falling out of the pins that had been holding it up. Her dress was torn in a number of places, and stained with dirt, grass, and blood so that one couldn't tell what colors it had originally been. Her cheeks were red from the wind and cold, and her face was smeared with dirt and dried blood. Yet, at that moment, she was the most beautiful woman he'd seen in years.

"Yes." Her voice was soft and breathless, as if all the air had rushed out of her at some point. The tears that had welled in her eyes rolled over and raced down her cheeks. Lynna reached forward and gently took the baby out of her arms and then Mary leaned over and kissed him.

"Absolutely," she said with a grin, between kisses. "Absolutely."

For a short while, he lost track of the rest of the world, although he thought he heard cheering around them. He let himself enjoy the moment, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her with all the intensity of emotion he felt just then.

After that, as sandwiches were being passed around and people were talking gaily to one another, already planning out possible locations to hold the wedding, he knew that they had won. The evil had killed possibly as many as half the town, but it hadn't killed the town itself. Their spirit still lived. He looked over at little Maggie, who'd been returned to Mary's arms. I guess I'm not done being a father yet either. I'm still needed here after all. He suddenly felt like he could move mountains, despite his missing leg.