Free Enchanted Cottage (Avador Book 3, Books We Love Fantasy Romance) by Shirley Martin Page B

Sunlight streaming through the open windows caught dust motes that floated in the air.
    Looking surprised, the head stable boy came forward to greet him. “Master Colin, it’s been a long time since we last saw you.”
    “Too long, Fagan. But I’m glad to be home again. Take good care of the horse and rub her down. We’ve been on the road for a long time.”
    “Indeed, sir. And may I say that Master Finian will be happy to see you.”
    And Leith? Colin wondered. With final instructions for the care of the horse, he retrieved his possessions from the saddle bags. He left the stable and headed for the family mansion, a magnificent structure that boasted over sixty rooms.
    “Son!” his father welcomed him in the study a few minutes later. Tears misted his eyes as he held Colin close. “We were so worried about you, had no idea where you were or what had happened to you. I must admit we feared the worst.”
    We? “Father, where is Leith?” He looked around in desperation, as though expecting Leith to enter the room any minute. And why not?
    Tears streamed down Finian’s cheeks. “Ah, if only you had come home sooner. It’s been so long—“
    ” Where is Leith ?”
    Finian drew back; his face revealed his anguish. “He died a few days ago.”
    “ Died ? How—what—“
    Finian drew out a handkerchief and dried his eyes. “He suffered from the wasting disease. Now he is at peace, with your mother in the Otherworld.”
    Colin sank into the nearest chair, holding his face in his hands. “Leith … I can’t believe it. He was always so vibrant, so alive!” He sat up and shook his head. “Hard to believe.”
    Finian sat, too, heaving a deep sigh. “We both wondered and worried about you. As I say, we feared—“
    ”Badly wounded in the last battle. Had to recuperate. I’ll tell you about that later. But where is L … Leith buried?”
    “In the family plot, next to your mother.”
    Colin stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d liked to go outside and see … his grave.”
    “Yes, of course. When you come back, we have much to discuss, if you feel up to it. Goddess knows, I’d like to forget mundane affairs, pretend everything is as before. But there is much to settle.” He laid his hand on his chest. “My heart …I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here.”
    “No, Father, don’t say it. I can’t lose you, too. Why, I’ll wager you’ll live for another twenty years, at least.”
    Finian smiled grimly. “We can hope.”
    Outside minutes later, Colin walked far beyond the house, to a place set aside as the family burial plot. A statue of Talmora stood at the entrance, and bushes of many kinds— hydrangeas, lilacs, and roses—formed a pleasant border. Finding the gravestone with Leith’s name on it, Colin sank to the ground. He fought his tears as he spoke with a bottomless sorrow, a grief that had no end. “Leith, my dear brother, forgive me for the times I was jealous of you, for any unkind words I ever spoke to you. Your suffering is over … you are now with our mother. Someday, my brother, we will meet again in the Otherworld and when we are both reborn in new bodies. I pray to the Goddess that it will be so.” Tears ran down his cheeks, but he wiped them away. He remained seated for long moments, thinking his private thoughts. Time lost all meaning as he sat by the grave; it may have been minutes or hours. A splendid oak stood nearby, a tree considered sacred by the people of Avador. He rose from the grave and knelt beside the tree.
    “Blessed Goddess Talmora, please watch over my brother in the Otherworld. Give him the happiness he surely deserves and grant that I may meet him again.” Then he rose and walked back toward the house along the stone path, past oaks and maples, here and there a weeping willow. Far in the distance stood the cottages of tenants, the fields showing late springtime growth of corn, tomatoes, kale, and endive, so many other vegetables. Close to the house,