Epilogue
Mathew sat down as his old and weary bones creaked with pain. "Stay there Great grandfather, I'll get your drink for you." Mathew could tell it was his eldest great grandson by the sound of his voice. Mathew smiled his appreciation "Thank you Edward." His family had gathered around him to hear him retell his story of how he met their Grandmother. Mathew knew had had 27 descendants, not by blood but by heart. He and Minnow bought a very young Keidran slave who had lost his family to a Templar attack. Minnow had desperately wanted a family so after months of saving Mathew surprised her with the newborn. They had raised him and cherished him as any parents would; Mathew named him Erik after his father. When Erik reached of age he married and had children. He stayed on the farm and slowly but surely they gained more and more land until Mathew had owned the biggest farm of the city. Mathew could feel the youngest of their large family Mike and Mika tug at his pant legs "What happened next Grandfather?" "Yes what happened?" Mathew could hear their mother, Falisha scold them "Pay your respects." Falisha was very young to be a mother, only nine, but she took crap from no one. Mathew hated being blind with age. To no longer see his dear family. Mathew smiled "The children are fine. They a filled with curiosity, just like their father." Greg was only ten and was a very shy lad but he was very loving and caring "Thank you grandfather." Mathew nodded towards him. "What ever happened to my grandfather and grandmother?" Mathew could tell it was one of Kore's descendants a young woman named Violet after Kore's wife. Kore's descendants also lived on the farm, his family numbered 13 total. Terron also brought a Josh and young lass who Josh had fallen for, his descendants numbered only 7 however but they lived on the farm as well. Mathew sighed a painful sigh "Well they came back and with Triplets none the less! We welcomed them with open arms and we were made whole when Terron had arrived bringing Josh and his future bride. We drank and sang and we promised to be with each other until the day we died." Mathew wiped a tear away from his face. No one of the 40 people did dare say a word, they wanted to hear every syllable. Mathew started again "Sadly forever was so short. Kore died eight years after we reunited; he was killed by a snake bite. That tough sonuvabitch, pardon ma language, could've taken a club to the head and kept on going. But a measly poisonous snake did him in. Kore said I love you only five times in his life, and that was on his deathbed. Once to Violet, once to Dee, and Once to each of his triplets. Violet mourned and decided to go on a killing spree at Bishops palace, she wanted to go with Kore and take a few of those wolves with her. Kore's precious Deevaro was shot dead by a couple of racists on an evening stroll." One of Deevaro's grandchildren spoke from the back "Did you get those who shot him?" Mathew smiled and took a breath from his pipe "I strung them up by the old apple tree near the creek, I couldn't call myself a friend of Kore if I let that go. Terron got the flu and passed away not twenty years ago, Josh died from a horse accident not long after." Mathew remained silent after that until another granddaughter of his bravely spoke up "What happened to Grandmother?" Mathew looked at the 40 people sitting around his rocker staring at him with wide eyes. Mathew brought a handkerchief to his wet eyes "My Minnow. My sweet darling wife. She died in my arms, we were out for an evening stroll one day and she collapsed. I picked her up and tried to revive her but she stopped breathing. My Darling wife was 24 when she passed on. She was the oldest Keidran that I had ever known, I take pride in knowing that she fought death to give me another couple years with her. I was 41 when she left, I have lived 40 years without seeing her, touching her face, telling her I love her. I loved her so. I hope Edge is taking care of her right now."
Mathew awoke in his rocker as he felt a sharp object pressed against his throat "Who is this?" A young voice whispered back "I am Jynx." Mathew smiled and whispered back "You are here to kill me, yes?" A light sniffle was the only response. Mathew chuckled and whispered "But you don't want to?" The pressure on his throat loosened "No I don't but I must." Mathew grinned "Why must you kill me?" The bo Y dropped to his knees "My father, and his father before him, and his father before him spent their lives tracking you down. I am the last one, I must fufill the contract that was left behind all those years ago." Mathew sighed "You do this for honor?" "Yes." "For your legacy?" The boy sniffled "Yes." "Then one last request for an oold man?" The boy began gasping, he had never killed a day in his life. "Yes what is it?" "Let me say goodbye to my family." The boy began crying "They'll kill me." Mathew waved his hand to dismiss the notion of the boy dying "I will tell them not to." The boy sniffled promise "Promise?" Mathew nodded "Yes."
His family was crying, they were broken at the news that Mathew had accepted death. Edward kneeled at Mathews feet "Why Grandfather, why?! Please don't!" Mathew patted Edwards head "I want to be with my wife, I love you all so much but I can't spend one more moment without her, I need her." The family had gathered around Mathew, all were sad and most were crying. Mathew felt a tear run down his face "I wake up every day lonely in my bed; I want to see her, to touch her, to kiss her. I want to have a drink with Edge, I want to have an argument with Terron, to say hello to Josh. I want to have a laugh with Kore, to hug Stacy, play a game with Deevaro. I want them and I know that they want me too." . Mathew smiled "You must lead this family Edward." Mathew spoke to everyone "Don't ever split up." "Yes Grandfather." Everyone, even those who were not Mathew's descendants said in unison. "This boy is not to be harmed after the deed is done." "Yes Grandfather." They said again. Mathew nodded "Take the children out." …. "I love you all." Mathew tapped the wolf "Now." Mathew felt the worst pain he had ever felt in his entire life course through his skull and then it stopped.
Mathew awoke in a foggy marsh. It was dark and he was scared. Then he noticed he felt no pain in his legs. Mathew touched his face only to finds soft young skin, He could see once more! Mathew began laughing in happiness. Then a light in the far distance caught his eye. Mathew began walking. The he began jogging, then he started to run letting his young body take hold. Then he slowed, the fire was near and he could hear laughing and the low singing of a Keidran. Then all the voices joined in, the song was sung slow but passionately "*Mathew oh Mathew come here soon, Mathew oh Mathew be with us by early noon, Why are not here oh Mathew? We have waited so long, Mathew oh Mathew be here so soon.*" Mathew stepped through the underbrush to see his friends. All looked young and youthful, Edge, Terron, Josh and his wife, Kore, Violet, Deevaro and his wife, a woman who sat next to Terron, and finally his beautiful Minnow. They stared at him in bewilderment. Mathew smiled "Hi, my names Mathew." Next thing Mathew knew Minnow was on top of him kissing his face "I love you so much Mathew! I am so sorry for leaving! Please forgive me! I love you so much; I could hardly live without you!"
Minnow was pried from him and they sat around the fire passing around drinks and then Edge spoke "Mathew, welcome to our slice of heaven, to greet you I invented a game where we all say something about you, I'll start. Mathew I missed our drinks together." They all took a drink. Terron spoke next "Mathew I missed the way you selflessly led us." They all took a drink. Kore spoke "I missed our care free lives with you." They all took a drink. Violet spoke next "I thank you Mathew for my husband, and I loved the way you kept us together." They all took a drink Deevaro and Joh both stood and spoke in unison "We missed the way you kept our dads from being assholes!" They all laughed and took a drink. Finally Minnow held a glass out "Mathew, my sweet, I missed the way you kissed me." Mathew leaned forward and kissed her "Like that?"
Terron smiled "Mathew this is my Katlyn." Mathew smiled and shook her hand over the fire "It is my honor to meet you Katlyn." Katlyn nodded "Thank you for getting our boy back."
They all hugged and danced and drank. Then when they slept Mathew made love with Minnow under the night sky, like when they were young and alive. Mathew hugged Minnow and slept with her "I love you." The next morning over the fire Edge held his glass and proposed a toast "To The Unlikeliest of Friends." They all raised their mugs and shouted in happiness "To The Unlikeliest of Friends!"