Chapter 4

Rhychard turned his gaze to Mark Rochester, the only cop who fought alongside them during the battle at the Bottoms, his partner already slain by Bertram Leary. The officer had witnessed things he never knew existed, fought creatures he thought lived only in fantasy books, and when it was all said and done, he stood beside them and kept their secret. He was there today to honor the young witch who tried to protect him, just as they were all there yesterday to honor his fallen partner. Beside Officer Rochester stood Jordan Thomas, longtime resident of Feather Lakes as well as recent champion of the community’s residents. Rhychard tried his best to keep others out of the battle against the Unseelie, but in the end, it had been the entire community coming together, risking their lives, who had defeated the Learys and the dark elves of the Void. He remembered what Kree had told him at the end of the battle. :It takes a village, Warrior, to protect a village.: The residents of Feather Lakes, otherwise known as the Bottoms, had defended their community when no one else even cared, teaching Rhychard Bartlett that he did not need to do it alone.

:One would have thought you would have learned that lesson back when we fought Vargas,: Kree sent to him. :Did it not take all of us, including Buttercup and your friend David Morsetti, to rescue the people of Harvest Fellowship?:

Rhychard glanced over at the coshey who was sprawled out on the grass under an elm tree. :I never said I was a quick learner.:

:This I know, Warrior.: Rhychard could hear the mirth in the elven hound’s tone. :This I know.:

“The blame for Rose’s death is not mine or anyone else’s,” Tansy continued. “It belongs solely on the shoulders of those who wanted to do harm to those we cared about, and we will always—always—stand in that gap to protect those who need it. None of us should regret stepping up, and this tragedy should not keep us from doing it again. That is what separates us from those who commit evil. I will always stand in that gap.” She turned her gaze to the casket, walking over, and placing her hand on the polished wood. “Rose, I am proud to have been your friend, your mentor, and your boss. I am also proud to have stood beside you at the very end. Godspeed to wherever your journey takes you now.” Tears once again fell from her eyes, this time falling on the casket of her friend.

Others could be heard crying as well, including Rose’s mother. Tansy walked around the casket and took the older woman in her embrace, hugging her for support and offering the woman her condolences. The others of the coven followed suit, followed by Officer Rochester, Jordan, Karl Bartlett, the Valentine sisters, and Famallumi, the Lore Master Apprentice. Rhychard and Renny brought up the rear together, offering the Tillerys their sympathies. Once Renny hugged Mrs. Tillery, they joined the small cluster of people who fidgeted, waiting to know what to do next.

Tansy was the one with the answer. “Why don’t we all meet up at the Cauldron and drink a toast to Rose? I’ll keep the store closed for the rest of the day in her honor, and we can sit around and share some stories.”

Wanda Patterson, the oldest of the coven, nodded her graying head as she dry-washed her hands, a nervous tick of hers Rhychard noticed. “I think that’s a great idea. I’ll stop and pick up something for all of us to nibble on. Some comfort food. I’m sure we’re all hungry.”

“I think that would be a great idea,” Tansy said with a smile, reaching out and caressing the other woman’s arm.

“Well, as much as I’d love to, I need to get back to work,” Officer Rochester said. He then turned to Rhychard, extending his arm for a handshake. As Rhychard gripped it, Mark said, “If you need anything, give me a call.”

Rhychard said he would, shaking the officer’s hand. Jordan just wanted to go home as well and rest, so he said his goodbyes, too, everyone giving both men handshakes as well as hugs before they left. Everyone else said they would meet up at the Murky Cauldron, and soon, the small cluster of people broke up, each one heading for their vehicles.

“It feels weird,” Renny said, wrapping her arm around Rhychard’s and leaning against his upper arm as they walked. “I just attended a funeral of a witch who fought beside me just a few days ago while I was…well, dead. Now, I’m the one who’s alive. It just seems…wrong.”

“It is wrong,” Famallumi said from behind them.

“Famallumi!” Rhychard snapped, jerking his head around to glare at the elf.

The Lore Master Apprentice lifted his hands and shrugged. “I am sorry, Warrior, but it is the truth. As much as I am happy your lifemate has returned to you, it is still wrong. We have no idea what the ramifications will be; what has changed in the timeline.”

“The future hasn’t happened yet,” Rhychard said. “So we couldn’t have screwed anything up. And even if we did, I would do it all again to get Renny back.”

“The future may not be set in your mind, but it has happened. Something has changed and, for all we know, it could be catastrophic.”

As they reached the truck, Rhychard opened the back bay door so Kree could hop inside. “How on earth could Renny being alive cause something catastrophic to happen in the future? It makes no sense.”

Kree walked up and, pressing down on his haunches, launched himself into the back of the truck. :Warrior, it is impossible for us to know as we are not there,: Kree sent to them with his mindspeech, the communication method of the coshey. :However, what the Lore Master Apprentice said is accurate. Perhaps you were destined to marry someone else and being with Renny stops your future from being born. What if they were then destined to some great feat, like curing a disease? Renny being alive now may very well jeopardize all of that.:

“What if Renny wasn’t supposed to die at Harvest Fellowship?” Rhychard pushed, unwilling to let go of his point. “Bringing her back may have saved my line.”

Renny put her hand on his chest, her soft, green eyes staring up into his. “Yet, I did die. Bringing me back was like a cheat, not natural. What if they’re right?”

He ran a hand around the back of her neck, matching her gaze. “They’re not. There is nothing wrong with you being back. Actually, it’s perfect.”

“Tryna did not think so,” Famallumi said.

:No, she did not,: Kree agreed.

Rhychard pulled the door down on the back of the truck. :I’ll see you at the Cauldron. And for the record, I don’t care what Tryna thinks. Besides, it’s too late now. Renny’s back.:

Walking around to the passenger side of the truck, he opened the door so Renny could slide in, leaving the door open for Famallumi to follow her. Rhychard walked around the truck to the driver’s side, his mind rationalizing Renny’s existence in his head while his stomach churned. While he didn’t think anything could really be done now that she was alive again, he still wouldn’t put it past the faerie world to attempt to fix what he didn’t see as a problem.

He reached up and gripped the driver’s door handle, pausing before he jerked it open. He knew enough about the faerie world to know they were sticklers for their rules and traditions. They would try to fix this, of that he had no doubt. The thing Rhychard had to do was figure out how they would attempt to rectify what they saw as a bad situation and stop them from carrying it out. He opened the door and climbed inside the cab of his truck. He’d figure it out. He’d stop them from doing whatever they intended to do. He had Renny back and no one—no one—would take her away from him again.