Free The Familiars #3: Circle of Heroes by Adam Jay Epstein, Andrew Jacobson Page B

who’s to say humans won’t repeat their past cruelties toward animals?” she replied.
    “You can’t think like that,” said Gilbert. “Not every human is the same. Marianne, Jack, Dalton, Kalstaff, Queen Loranella, Sorceress Edna … they’re all good people.”
    “Don’t forget what we’re fighting for,” Banshee added. “For humans and animals to coexist peacefully.”
    “Peacefully, perhaps,” said Skylar. “But not equally. A human has sat on the throne in Bronzhaven for hundreds of years, and never have they sought the advice or counsel of animals. As unpleasant and immoral as her actions may be, Paksahara isn’t completely wrong.”
    The words sent a shiver down Aldwyn’s spine. For Skylar to even think of defending someone as merciless and brutal as the gray hare seemed inexcusable.
    “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from walking in the past,” said Simeon to Skylar, “it’s to think long and hard about the decisions you make in the present. We only get to make them once, and then we have to live with the consequences forever.”
    Skylar didn’t look convinced but made no further comment. Aldwyn could see that they had reached the Yennep Highlands, a long plateau at the top of a mountain. From this elevated position, Aldwyn felt like he was back on the rooftops of Bridgetower, looking down on the entire city, except here all of Vastia could be seen. There was a trail of smoke and destruction across the land, no doubt marking the path of the Dead Army’s march.
    “These are our stomping grounds,” said the stallion as they galloped across a vast alpine meadow, passing hundreds of lightmares who were grazing peacefully.
    “Untouched by any outsider,” the stallion continued. “No fences have ever been built. No trees cut down. If the grass is eaten, it will grow back. You are the first to visit, save for the birds, wind, and clouds.”
    “We are honored to be your guests,” said Aldwyn. “We seek the aid of one of your species, a lightmare to join us on our quest to restore peace to all of Vastia.”
    “You’ll need to speak with the tribe’s thunderhoof. I’ll take you to her now.”
    They were approaching the far side of the meadow, where a group of white stallions guarded the mouth of a cave. The stallions allowed the steed to walk up to the cavern’s entrance and let the familiars and descendants dismount.
    Aldwyn was first to enter the cave. It was as long and wide as the grand dining hall in the New Palace of Bronzhaven, but dimly lit. The far reaches were hard to make out from its mouth at first, but as the stallion led them deeper into the mountain, Aldwyn quickly realized just how special this place really was.
    The walls were covered in elaborate drawings of animals accomplishing great tasks. The images appeared to have been painted in the same style and perhaps even by the same hand that had decorated the Kailasa cave. Some of the drawings, like those of frogs sitting on thrones and telekinetic cats moving glyphstones, were identical to those at Kailasa. Others were different. One showed the image of woodpeckers carving a bracelet, the same bracelet that allowed Paksahara to control the Shifting Fortress. Another depicted lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards wearing leather and chain mail armor, marching into battle against man centuries earlier on the Chordata Plains.
    There were more recent paintings as well, including one of Kalstaff and Zabulon, Loranella and Paksahara, and the Mountain Alchemist and Edan fighting the first zombie uprising. It was strange to see Paksahara standing alongside Loranella now that she had betrayed her loyal and vowed to rule all of Vastia. One drawing in particular left Aldwyn breathless: in it, a cat, a bird, and a frog were fighting a gray-haired witch and her octopot. It took him a moment to realize that he and Skylar and Gilbert and their battle with Agdaleen had been immortalized here.
    “Is that … us?” asked