Then I looked back to Commander Kippenger — though, I supposed he was king now. “Your men will leave their weapons here. But I will allow you to collect your wounded men, and Tobias will provide you with any help we can offer in their care. Other than that, I want you and your soldiers out of my country immediately. Do not return again ever to make war against us.”

Kippenger stood again, but his sword remained on the floor. “Yes, King Jaron. I’ll see to it at once.”

I tilted my head to excuse him, and he left the room. Next, the remaining soldiers deposited their swords at my feet, then heeded Kerwyn’s order to remove Vargan’s and Conner’s bodies from the room.

Once they were gone, King Humfrey walked forward. “Lord Kerwyn convinced me to come here on the promise that I would have to see what became of the incorrigible boy who once challenged me to a duel. I believe that you are every bit as difficult now as you were then.”

“You’re wrong,” I said. “I’m far worse now than I ever was.”

He chuckled, and then with more seriousness said, “I was wrong about you. Forgive me.”

Forgiveness would come in time. For now, it was enough to hear Humfrey’s men in the great hall, shouting Mendenwal’s new orders. Swords clanged to the floor and the grunts and cries of men at war were very quickly turning to silence, to peace.

I said to Kerwyn, “I’ll return soon, but please watch over the retreat and help our wounded.”

Kerwyn started to ask me where I was going, but as I opened the door to the passages, he only smiled and said, “Your lady is inside these walls, waiting for you.”

Imogen and I were married a little over a year later, in the great hall of my castle, as I had promised her. She wore my mother’s wedding gown, carefully saved away all these years, and a wreath of miniature roses in her hair. The hall was filled to its capacity, and the courtyard outside was just as thickly packed, awaiting our first appearance as king and queen, husband and wife.

Tobias and Amarinda had married several months earlier and were happier than ever. They lived well here in the castle, and my friendship with them both had only strengthened since the war’s end. He had become apprenticed to the castle physician, a profession that ensured he would continue finding ways to frustrate me, at least as often as I found ways to injure myself.

I would always be grateful to them for saving Mott’s life. He moved slower than he used to, and I knew the wound he’d suffered still gave him pain. Although he would never fight again, I hoped to lead a kingdom where it would never again be necessary. He spent our entire first conversation after his recovery lecturing me for my usual failings of recklessness, but ended it by promising to serve me with even greater loyalty. I wasn’t sure that was possible.

Fink held the ring for Imogen and gave it to me when the priest called for it. He winked at me, hoping for congratulations that he had managed not to lose it. That actually was a significant accomplishment and I gave him a wink back. Fink had become a younger brother to me. Every bit as annoying. Every bit as valuable.

Roden and Harlowe had spent most of the past year learning to know each other as father and son. Roden had been the one to tell him of their connection, though he’d waited several days after the war’s end to find the right moment. I’d had little to do with their reunion, but Harlowe’s gratitude to me was as warm as the day I’d saved Nila’s life. Roden spent the bulk of his free time with his father, immersed in the education he should have had throughout his life. But he remained the captain of my guard and was growing continually more confident in his role. Under his command, Carthya would eventually rebuild an army strong enough to always keep us free.

My fears that Harlowe might abandon his attentions to me had turned out to be unfounded. Over the past several months I have come to understand that love can only expand and allow any number into its circle. Harlowe might have come to love me as a son, and yet I felt I had come to an understanding with my own father too. For the first time in my life, I was settled in my ways of thinking about him.

Immediately after the battle’s end at Farthenwood, I had relinquished my title as king of the pirates and given the rule entirely to Erick. As far as I knew, he continued to lead them. Even still, their brand remained on my forearm, and a part of me would always belong to them. If ever they called for me in a time of need, I was bound by oath to answer.

It had been a difficult year in rebuilding Carthya. We had lost far too many men, and full recovery was at least a generation away. But each day was better, and nothing remained to threaten us.

Certainly not Avenia. Commander Kippenger had taken the throne and presided over a much diminished country. I had urged him to build schools, not weapons, and so far he seemed to have taken my advice. After tough negotiations, Gelyn and Carthya gradually reopened trading routes, though I kept a standing army on our northern border now. And the relationship was warming with Mendenwal. In fact, anticipating an eventual child for Imogen and me, King Humfrey had offered a treaty of betrothal with one of his grandchildren. Although his intentions were well meant, we kindly rejected his offer.

And on the night of my wedding, I held Imogen close in my arms with no thought of ever releasing her. Better still was that Imogen held me too. She was my family, my life, and the center of my world.

All that I knew was at peace.