Part 3

Chapter NINETEEN: Miserable Ends-DEVIN

...

Over a year and a half later...

More than two years had gone by since the world received a new Dreamer. On the Mainland, much remained the same and uneventful as peace was with all...

However, a loud ruckus could be heard atop a high elevated plateau hidden in the Thail Mountains. It was near springtime and the sun was brightly shining.

Devin and another man hid behind a wooden shack ready to attack the intruder that had just entered Animalville. The dirty-blonde-haired man, buff and mighty, was first to charge out. His pink albino eyes glared angrily at the intruder. Devin then jumped out with his sword at hand, also surprising the fiend, who had cornered Pig into the corner of his shack.

"Please men, I am just a lowly hunter in search of mutton or chops for my Lord. You're humans-Why don't we just feast upon them all? There's at least one of every animal here," the intruder pleaded and licked his lips hungrily.

"Well, you are not using Pig here for pork chops today. Leave before you regret it!" Frederick, in human form, said angrily at the hunter.

"Do as he says. I'm warning you..." Devin said forbiddingly, siding with his friend.

The man then waved his axe at them, ignoring both Devin and Frederick demands.

"Suite yourself, then," Devin said, sticking the point of his sword into the ground as though to let the hunter have his way. The next second, he smirked in satisfaction as Fredrick transformed into a dragon and blew a large fireball, singeing and shocking the hunter who scampered away immediately.

The other animals then came out of their hiding places. Pig squealed happily with gratitude.

"Next time, I will get to have all the fun, friend!" Devin said chuckling as they walked away towards Frederick's cottage higher up on the mountainside.

"Yes...Next time..." Frederick said seemingly, and turned into his new human form which he had learned since Devin came to stay with him in Animalville. Despite their mild and invigorating fight just then, Frederick had been extremely concerned for Devin and still was since they left Mysten Far all those years ago. At least Devin has finally gotten out of bed, Fredrick thought optimistically.

They walked into the small ordinary dwelling. Devin went straight to his cot to lay down, wanting desperately to fall asleep again. Frederick sighed sympathetically, but disappointed in himself for letting his old friend stay in place once again. Instead of scolding Devin for going to bed midday, Frederick turned to the door, leaving, to let Devin sleep peacefully.

...

Devin, unable to sleep, laid there thinking the same miserable thoughts for the thousandth time. Coward, unworthy, dishonorable...deserter! Devin tormented himself. I should be exiled or hung. Some great highest knight I have been! Talia would be ashamed of me and she should be. But Princess Alicia... he did not know what the princess thought had happened to him, but she most likely believed him a scoundrel and traitor after all this time.

Since Talia became the Dreamer, Devin returned to Animalville with Frederick, abandoning his duties as a knight. His stay at first was only to wait for the snowy weather to subsided; but Devin had taken hard Talia's departure, and never left the animal refuge. He blamed himself for being so stubborn and wanting to stay in Thais all those years ago, and had not returned to the kingdom out of negative association for his loss.

He had called Talia in his sleep every night, able to see her, but she not able to see him, once she left for the Dreamworld. However, over a year and a half ago, right after her grandmother passed away, he was able to finally speak with his dear love and friend. But out of shame and self-disgust, he did not want to tell her that he was now a deserter of the Thail battalion and had no intentions of ever going back.

Funny, he thought suddenly about his last dream with her. Talia had mentioned that she was sending some Sun Priest to find him and he had laughed and told her not to bother because he did not want to be found or rescued. After all, he had been a knight and did not require rescuing; but Devin wondered if the druid was still searching for him after all this time.

"Nah, ridiculous…" he said aloud, wondering who the bloke was and if Talia and this Sun Priest were good friends now. The last druid, and only druid, he had seen was that odd Moon Priestess, he recalled; at the same time, starting to feel lethargic, and glad for it. Now he wished that he had given Leana a letter to Talia; but then again, he had walked into the Maurva cabin in Elden and she was talking to herself, which was enough to change his mind.

Devin closed his eyes hoping that he would find Talia and fell asleep.

...

A few hours later, Devin was suddenly woken in a torrent of feathers spreading all over the room.

"The sky is falling, Devin! The sky is falling!" Chicken said as always, flapping his wings wildly. But Devin knew better now and knew that the foul had something more important to say.

"What, Chicken?!" Devin said irritated because he was just having a dream, but it had been too soon to figure out what the dream was about. The thought that someone should put Chicken out of his misery crossed his mind, but he did not mean it. In fact, the animals had hated his presence in their sanctuary when he arrived, but once he started helping scare or kill intruders, he had become like family.

"...Queen Alisandra of Thais has died," Frederick said morosely as he entered the room and scooped Chicken up to throw him out.

"But how?! Are the king and Alicia okay?!" Devin asked as his heart beats increased.

"The queen died from illness this morning. Apparently, she and the king have been sick for the last few weeks. The king is still ill, but there is some hope that he may recover. They will be burying the queen tomorrow. Alicia...will be crowned as the rightful queen to the throne."

"Queen?... She must be devastated!" Devin said absorbing the shock of the news. He remembered how much he liked the Queen Alisandra, and also too, what his dear friend must be going through.

"Yes, I believe so as well... All are welcome to attend the ceremonies. I hope that you will muster the courage to attend, Devin. If not, I will understand since your life would be at stake," Frederick said as he sadly looked to the floor.

Devin thought for a moment. He obviously should not attend the ceremonies, but he would somehow pay his respects.