Epilogue

SIX MONTHS LATER

 

Lander didn’t look up from the text he was reading when the door opened. He could recognise Yban’s steps anywhere; it didn’t matter whether the floor was wooden or it was the ground of the forest. If he hadn’t, he probably would have startled when arms circled him from behind and a wet kiss landed on his neck.

“You smell like leaves.” The smell of Yban made Lander think of green trees and starred skies. He missed those from time to time; he missed the way they’d found each other in the forest, the way that entire world was theirs. But he wouldn’t change it for what they had now. A family. Theirs.

“I’ve taken some people to see Mari.” The sentence was spoken against his neck, making Lander tremble.

Lander and Yban hadn’t forgotten the promise they’d made to Mari, and they talked about her and told their story to everyone willing to listen. Each week, Yban would lead a group of people to the cave to see her and make their requests. The goddess was no longer forgotten.

They'd moved from Lander's village. They had found a home in another one not far from the forest: Lander thought neither he nor Yban would ever want to live far away from the place. Lander’s aunt had come with them. She'd set up another forge, but this time she could work on her passion, so she started making and selling jewellery. Soon enough, she had an established clientele and people coming from all over the realm to buy one of her creations.

As for Lander, he made use of the gift Basajaun had given to him and studied hard enough to become one of the best healers in the area. He got multiple requests from all over the realm; people of high standing wanted him as their own personal healer. But he rejected all of them. He was happy enough taking care of the people living in this village, which was his home now. Just that morning, a child had come in with a serious cold, which Lander had managed to minimise, and he’d told the distraught mother he would give her some medicine to take care of the rest of the symptoms. That’s what he’d been studying when Yban had come in.

He completely lost his focus when Yban started peppering kisses all over his neck, finally biting the sensitive place where neck met shoulder, making Lander moan and turn around to face him.

“You’re distracting me.”

Yban gave him a winning smile. “I know.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“I know.”

“And I love you.”

“I know. I love you too.”

The kiss that came after that declaration was both sweet and passionate, a prelude of the things that would come next. Lander knew they would never tire of each other. This is my home now, he thought, as Yban picked him up and carried him to their bedroom. This is my family now.