Penitent

Chapter 252 Book 4 Ch 33: The Gods are Good

They stayed like that for some time, but eventually they ran out of tears and released one another.

"How?" managed Gabriel, his voice ragged and cracked.

"The gods. They heard a prayer from you when you first arrived. When I died, I ran from the light I was drawn to, and the gods made the light that led here shine a little brighter."

"And Mom, Vick, Laura, they're okay?"

"They were the last time I saw them. You're an uncle by the way."

"Vick I hope?"

Michael laughed. "Laura's too focused on her career."

"What's she doing?"

"She's in accounting."

Gabriel laughed, wiping some of the tears from his face. "She always said she wanted a job like yours when she grew up. Something she didn't care about and could put out of her mind the second she walked out the door. She was so weird."

Michael laughed.

"How did you die?"

"Pancreatic cancer."

Gabriel shook his head. "I'm so sorry dad."

"Me too. I wanted more time with your mother. With everyone. I'm glad I get to spend more time with you though."

"Time…" Gabriel frowned, pushing all of his emotions to the side. "We need to return to dinner. We've already been here too long." He gestured to the back of his neck. "You can remove my brand?"

Michael nodded, wiping what remained of his tears from his eyes. "I can, but I'll need to be careful. Those in Stent included a kind of notification that was sent when they were removed."

Gabriel nodded, his jaw clenched, turning around and lifting his hair off the small brand on his neck. It had a different shape from the Stent ones, and seemed less complex. "I already have things in place. I have to take the risk."

Michael raised his hand, placing it gently on his son's neck and began channeling divine energy through it, starting carefully.

Gabriel jerked for a moment before stilling.

"Is everything okay?" asked Michael.

"That feels like… Mom."

"It feels the same for me. The feeling of her hand in mine when I… when I passed."

"It reminds me of being sick with food poisoning. She must've stayed up all night rubbing my back so I could rest."

Michael smiled, he remembered that well. Every time the kids were sick Sara clucked over them like a mother hen. He returned his focus, letting the gods guide him as he addressed the brand.

"Who did this to you?" he asked as he began his healing.

"The King and Queen of Burndan. They hid that I was a taker, and branded me so that they could make me into the perfect king, and Burndan into the perfect kingdom. Whenever I'd resist an order or ask too many questions, they'd activate it.'

Michael gritted his teeth. It was what he expected, but hearing it from his son himself filled him with righteous anger.

It took a few moments of focus, but he'd been right. This brand was far simpler than those he'd encountered before. Maybe an earlier variation or even the source of the original brand. He healed it completely, finding that there was no signal sent after it was done.

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"There's no signal. You should be okay."

Gabriel nodded, some of the tension in his shoulders releasing.

"Good. That will give me time to resolve things here. My wife and children are still with the Queen Dowager. I won't be completely freed until they're safe from her."

"I'll help," said Michael, a hand on Gabriel's shoulder.

Gabriel placed his hand over Michael's. "Thanks Dad. We shouldn't delay any longer. We'll have to at least go through the motions of the mediation."

Michael frowned. "Can't the mediation be genuine now? Without the brand you're not compelled to fight."

"My mother has spies everywhere. Even getting her to agree to the mediation took work. She has obligations to the rift creatures. They promise that our kingdom and any we conquer will be our own to rule."

"They're lying."

"I know, but until my family is safe I can't risk doing anything openly against her plans."

"What if I get to her alone? With just a few allies? We can protect your family."

Gabriel frowned considering, and shook his head. "No. It's too risky. There are too many nuances to the terrain, the people I have in place, all of it. I need to be there myself. Though, you and your allies would be a great help."

Michael nodded. "Okay. So we go through the motions of the mediation. How long?"

"One more day. Maybe two. If we can get some kind of proposal out of Swandia I can make the excuse of needing to review it with my advisors. It'll buy us a few days."

"And how would we make it all the way to Burndan in just a few days?"

Gabriel smiled. "I have a method in place."

"Okay, I'll have my people help move things in the direction we need."

Gabriel shook his head. "I couldn't have pictured this."

Michael smiled. "I couldn't either, but I'm grateful for it."

They embraced one more time and exited the tent, Michael's ears popped from the end of some kind of silence spell Gabriel must've cast and they made their way back into the dinner tent. Everyone seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, a few cups deep. He and Gabriel shared one more cup with everyone before they said polite goodbyes. Michael had to resist hugging Gabriel again, opting for a nod. It was hard to let him out of his sight, but it was what needed to be done.

They made their way back to the Swandian camp, staying polite but cagey with those Swandian knights that led them back to their tent. Once they were settled, Ollie cast another silence enchantment. He, Pyotr, Marcus, and Lance eagerly crowded around Michael.

"So?" asked Ollie.

Michael smiled broadly, tears in the corner of his eyes. "It's really him. He's Gabriel."

Pyotr didn't hesitate to wrap Michael in a bear hug, tears forming in his own eyes.

"I am so glad, brother. I cannot imagine a greater gift."

Ollie embraced Michael immediately after Pyotr let him go, tears in his own eyes. "I can't believe it." He shook his head. "I don't even think I can blame a wizard for this one. Gotta give credit to the gods."

Marcus was smiling, but with sadness behind his eyes. "I'm glad you found a piece of home here." He patted Michael on the shoulder. "I wish we could all be so lucky."

Michael squeezed Marcus's shoulder tightly. He still hadn't talked about what he'd left behind on Earth, possibly never would, but Michael had seen glimpses and his heart went out to him.

Lance had a smile on his face. "I'm glad I could be part of a family reunion for a change," he said. His expression turned serious. "What does he need from us? I can't imagine his brand is healed and now everything is over."

Michael nodded. "The Queen dowager still has my daughter in law and grandkids. Gabe has a plan to free them and he wants us involved. He can't make any sudden moves though, as the woman has eyes everywhere."

"This might make things complicated here," said Lance. "Even if there's a natural break in the negotiations it'll be suspicious for you and the others to vanish. Maybe we can fake receiving a message calling you back to Hume? I can lead the mediations…. Though I'd rather be with you to help."

"I appreciate that," said Michael, "But you're right. Someone of rank will need to stay, and I don't think Ollie's up to the job."

"Oi!"

Lance chuckled. "No, I definitely think it should be me. I can hopefully keep a lid on things here, though if I can't I'm sure Laird, Blake, and I can at least get our people out of here."

Michael nodded. "Thank you."

He turned to the others. "Thank you all."

"It's no problem. Gotta help out my nephew after all," replied Pyotr.

They talked a bit more about details, bringing the diplomats and knights up to speed on the plan. There was still some trepidation from them, as Michael still didn't want to risk telling anyone the truth about King Castor, but they trusted him. Laird in particular seemed to have no questions about doing as he asked, and Blake wasn't far behind him.

Michael settled onto his bedroll that night and closed his eyes. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, so instead he chose to pray. He fully forgave the gods for not telling him about Gabriel. He'd understood from the start, but it took reuniting with him to find true forgiveness to offer. He heard their whispers fully return, fortifying him and the divinity he had cultivated within himself. He was back in his son's life, and soon he'd meet two new grandchildren for the first time. The gods were good.