Book 3 Chapter 31: He was Rendhold, and Renhold was Him
Even with Serpica dead, the fight didn’t end immediately. The druids still had to kill a dozen of the horribly flesh-beasts that she’d created, ending whatever cruel suffering had bound them together in such a sickening way.
When Dantes was done killing the last of him with a stake-like finger from his wooden hand, he turned his attention to everyone else. Fern was clutching her twin, Ivy, to her chest weeping openly as she rocked the body back and forth. Her and her sister’s falcons were on top of the body as well, screeching like mothers that had just lost their babe.
Dantes moved over to them, and placed his hand on her shoulder. He focused on those smallest parts of her, and willed lifeforce into her, trying to stop the flow of her own life out of her, but it was no use. He stumbled back from the effort. He tried a second time, then a third. By the end of the third time his vision was darkening. He went to her again, and Fern held up her hand, stopping him.
She leaned close to her sister's body, placing her forehead against hers. Ivy breathed out for the last time, and Fern breathed in, forever changed. Dantes could feel that bit of life, that bit of self that was left moved from within Ivy’s body, into Ferns. She gently lowered Ivy’s empty vessel, and stood, reaching her hands out for the twin falcons. They fluttered up, and one landed on each of their shoulders, rubbing the tops of their heads against her. She looked at Dantes, and held out her hand to help him back up.
“We’re both here. We’re both okay. Thank you for trying to heal me.”
Dantes took her hand and let her help him up.
Traizen stumbled over to them, openly sobbing. “You took her into yourself?”
Fern and Ivy smiled, and wrapped Traizen in a hug. “We’ve always been with one another, this is no different.”
Dantes let out a breath and leaned against a large beam until a taloned hand pulled him down.