'Esa,' he breathes the name of the celestial goddess in whose honour his Order was founded, but it is his terrestrial love whose vision floats before his eyes. His only prayer is that his sacrifice has bought his love, and the other woman time to escape. The thought of a Gargers laying a finger on his lady is more than he can bear. 'Asterith' he whispers, and then all is darkness.
Perhaps Asterith came to Odo's aid in the nick of time. Perhaps she was able to take up enough arrows that had been fired from the Garger ranks and to fire them back against the reptilian horde. Perhaps fury and divine aid enabled her to take up Odo's fight and fight them until they were no more. Perhaps she found him atop the mound of the enemies he has slain, and realised that he lived yet, though deprived of consciousness by fatigue and bloodloss. Perhaps she managed to drag him from there, perhaps with Kreysta's aid. Perhaps in a secluded cave in the next valley she has tended to Odo's wounds and nursed him through a raging fever, seldom leving his side.
The mountain valley is beautiful, and lush compared to the adjoining parts, but eschewed by humanity due to its proximity to the abode of the dreaded Gargers and also to the Kraken realm of Kalakashna, just beyond the mountans. Once people lived here, though, as the ancient paintings within the secluded cave testified. The cave had become Kreystas's abode now, there she looked after her garger son, whom she had named Sawney, and also helped Asterith tend to the unconscious knight.
'Alas,' Odo said, 'the world of nations calls us away.'
'We would not have left you without saying goodbye,' Asterith said.
'Indeed, we had hoped you might yet reconsider and come back to civilization with us.' Odo said.
'I can never go back.' Kreysta shook her head, passing through to lay her child down in the makeshift crib adjacent to her own sleeping space in the cave. 'My people would never accept my son. This dear, gracious lady Asterith - whom I now know to be my true queen- has tried to persuade me otherwise, but I know how it would be. So unless she commands me otherwise, then I will stay, and bring the bairn up here, away from any cruelty and anyone who might point fingers.'
'It need not be like that...' Asterith said.
'Oh but it would, my lady...' Kreysta glanced back to them. 'I owe you both the life I have, but my old life was already lost before you found me. I wouldn't wish to meet anyone I knew before... The girl they knew is no more, and may as well stay dead to them. Here will I stay, alone, with the wee one.' She smiled sadly. 'Besides this cave is nice and homely, especially after that other, and I'd miss the view.'
'I'm sorry, but if that is your wish. By your leave we may come back this way after a little while, to see how you are faring.' Odo said.
'You will both be welcome here any time. Oh...' Kreysta reached for something. 'Brave knight, don't forget your cloak! I mended and cleaned it for you.'
'Thank you. Yet keep it if you wish, something to remember me by.'
'As if I could ever forget you.' Kreysta shook her head vehemently. 'A knight of Esa should have his cloak.' She glanced at Asterith, 'is that not so my lady? And I will never forget your kindness to me either.'
'Neither will we forget you, Kreysta, and we leave you with our blessing, and promises to visit again.'
The two young women, who had become friends over the period of Odo's convalescence, embraced. The knight then bowed and kissed Kreysta's hand, wishing her peace. After their final farewells Odo and Asterith left the mother and her Garger child to begin whatever sort of life they might lead in that isolated haven.
THE END