Chapter 29: Empty

The Rabbi led Siannon to a door, which he opened and motioned for Siannon to walk through. When she did, she found herself in the courtyard outside of her castle. What had been empty and lifeless for so long was now filled with people—all four of her children and their families, Mohammad and several other friends from the Treasury in Alexandria, Clyde and Gwen and the rest of the castle’s inhabitants, Ming Xia and her dragon, Rubin, and of course, Asha.

Her children ran to her first, each embracing her in turn. She told them how sorry she was that she had been lost to them for so long. They responded with understanding and forgiveness.

“That was some gift,” Siannon told Malcolm, holding up her amulet.

“Give credit to the Rabbi,” Malcolm replied. “It came from his collection.”

“Ben always did have good taste in jewelry,” she said.

As she greeted her guests, she found herself recounting not only her magical experience but also her life with Dylan, and in turn, they shared their own memories of him. As the day progressed, with every story told, every memory recounted, her sense of his presence grew more pronounced to the point that it felt as if he was standing beside her, holding her hand.

His promise was true; he would be with her every day that she remembered him. His funeral had seemed like his ending, but the celebration of Siannon’s return felt to her like a new beginning.