Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 768
it too. I’ll be back, Jordan. You know that. And if you want
to talk to me meantime, you know what to do."
He nodded. The Winds would carry his words
anywhere--to the Voice, to Armiger and Galas, August Ostler
and, maybe, even to Calandria May, if she was listening.
"This is what you wanted," she said. "Now go on."
He and Tamsin dismounted, and started walking hand in
hand. They got all of twenty paces before both turned to look
back. The honor guard saluted, and the Voice waved brightly
before turning her horse towards the road that led to Castor’s
manor and the inn there.
They watched her go, then started walking again.
Neither spoke.
There was his house; he stopped to examine it closely.
No signs of fire, the roof was still on it--and there, suddenly,
was Emmy. She screamed when she saw him, and started
running. Jordan grinned and just stood there, opening his arms
when she reached him and hugged him and spun him around.
"You’re back and you’re safe safe safe!" She nearly
crushed him and he laughed, hugging her close.
"We’re safe," he said. "We’re all safe now."
"Oh, Jordan." She started to cry. "You’ve come back.
After everything--the Change, and the Winds coming to speak
to us, and hearing what you did to bring it all about--I thought
you’d go away to some castle somewhere and never come
home."
"I don’t want any of that," he said. "I never did."
"And who’s this? Could it be that my baby brother is
growing up?" She smiled at Tamsin, who blushed. "So
introduce me."
He did, and they stood in the middle of the road and
talked about everything all at once, laughing all the while.