“I don't think I am worthy of any such honor,” Benny said. “I have been blundering along, making so many mistakes. There are so many things I would change, if I could do them over.”
“But you are learning. You ponder your mistakes and try to do better thereafter. That is the truth and beauty of the process. So few mortal humans do.” The others nodded.
“But that learning hurts!” Benny protested. “I have lost close friends like Laughing Jack and my wife, Virtue. I know I can't ever replace them in my heart.” He was on the verge of breaking down, and he hated that, because he knew he was feeling sorry for himself and wasting Sethrida's time. But he couldn't stop the memories and the anguish. “I feel so lost without them!”
The figure before him shifted and became Laughing Jack. “Buck up and stop complaining,” he said gruffly.
Dale chuckled and Helena smiled.
Benny fell back, astonished. Then he realized that the Sentinel had merely assumed Jack's form for the moment. But it helped. “I'll try,” he promised.
The figure became Bum, his orc friend. “Don't try. Do it.”
Now Benny had to smile. “Thanks, friend. But still, Virtue—”
“And as for Virtue,” Bum said, “She's not quite as dead as you might think.”
“But—”
The figure morphed again. Now it was Virtue. “Oh, Benny!” she exclaimed, running to hug him as the others smiled again.
He had to hug her back, and kiss her. But he knew he was fooling himself. This was the Sentinel assuming her aspect, as Magenta had before. It wasn't real.
She stepped back a pace. Now her form became translucent. “Oh, Benny, I'm fading,” she said. “You don't believe in me.”
What could he say? “Virtue, I love you! But the witch killed you.”
Her form firmed a bit. “Not entirely. I was able to combat her spell somewhat. I saved my spirit by disengaging before my body died. But now I'm much like a ghost, and I know no way to revive myself, or save the life of our unborn daughter.”
“Oh, Virtue!” Benny moaned, stricken again.
“I'm sorry, but I must ask. Is Ammarod alive?”
And she still had feelings for the man. Benny hesitated to answer.
“Ammarod is dead,” Dale said.
“How did he die? Was there any way to spare him?”
“I killed him,” Benny said. “We were in combat. I absorbed part of him.”
The Sentinel reappeared. “Benny tried to spare Ammarod,” she said. “But he would not accept Benny's forgiveness and help. He was far too manipulated by Winona to change, though he wanted to. Now he is part of Benny, who may, in time, discover how to use his properties and memories.”
Virtue reappeared. “I—I have to say I am relieved. Ammarod was no longer the man I had known. I wish there had been some way for me to make peace with him.”
Sethrida reappeared. “The Protector gave me the option and power of restoring Ammarod as well as Winona, but I feel that this would not be a good idea. In an imperfect world like Pakk, they could revert to their evil ways. However, in the Afterlife, through the Protector's mercy, they and others like them may indeed redeem themselves, and the Protector may still have good work for them, as he has for Dale. It is not known for sure at this time, but the possibility exists. It all depends on them.”
“And there's still a chance for me to know my mother other than as an antagonist?” Benny asked. “As well as for Virtue to make peace with Ammarod?”
“Not on this world or in this life, but in the hereafter, in another time and place. At present we must settle things for Virtue.”
Virtue returned. “I must leave you,” she said sadly. “This is not my body. But I will always be with you in spirit.” She faded, and Sethrida reappeared.
Benny, distraught, suffered a pang of anger. “Why are you teasing me, Sentinel?” he demanded. “If you can't make Virtue whole again, why flash her before me like this?”
“I can revive her completely,” Sethrida said seriously. “But her physical time in Pakk is over. The Protector needs her on other worlds, just as one day you and Dale and Helena will be needed on other worlds. It is better not to meddle further, lest there be unfortunate complications.”
She could bring Virtue back? He was tempted to beg her to do that, but knew that any complications that made the force of Nature hesitate were bound to overwhelm him. Yet maybe there was something to be salvaged. “Our child—what about her? She can't just appear on some other world as a baby.”
Sethrida considered briefly. “True. That much is feasible. She can be here, if there is a woman willing to carry her.”
“I'll do it,” Helena offered.
The Sentinel looked at her. “No. You are already with child, a boy.”
“A boy!” Dale exclaimed, ecstatic.
Benny was glad for them, but sorry that this meant there was no host for his daughter. Damn!
“She is here,” Sethrida said. Benny wasn't sure whom she meant.
Magenta materialized before them, having completed her teleportation. She looked about, startled. “Who are you?”
“Let me touch you and you will know,” Sethrida said, extending her hand.
Magenta took the hand, and seemed about to faint as she assimilated the woman's nature. “Oh! I somehow thought you'd be larger.”
“Like this?” the Sentinel asked, abruptly appearing in her full size.
“Yes,” Magenta said, awed.
Sethrida reappeared in human size. “Size is largely irrelevant in the larger scheme. There may be a task for you to do.”
Magenta looked at Benny. “I came to help Benny, knowing I have a role to play in his future. But I don't know what it is.”
The Sentinel's body became Virtue. “It is to carry my baby, since I can't stay on Pakk in physical form. My body is dead, on this world. I can see how you would not want to do that.”
“Of course I'll do it!” Magenta said.
“Are you sure? You would have to marry Benny.”
“As if that would be a chore, were he not already committed to you.”
“Then here it is,” Virtue said. Her belly glowed, becoming an orb of light. She stepped into Magenta, briefly merging with her. Then she stepped out again, no longer glowing.
“Oh!” Magenta repeated. Now the glow was in her, fading.
“Farewell,” Virtue said, waving to them all. She looked at Magenta. “Take care of Benny, please.”
“I will,” Magenta said, clearly taken aback.
Then Virtue was gone, and Sethrida was back. “Benny, your marriage to Virtue is not over, and will never be over. But it is no longer relevant on Pakk. Magenta is now your local wife. She will bear Virtue's child, and the two of you will have more children in the future. That aspect is now in place.”
“Uh,” Benny said, at a loss for coherent words.
Magenta laughed. “You had better marry me. I'm carrying your child. What's her name?”
“Laurel,” Benny said before he thought. “After her mother, as she was originally.”
“What about yours?” Burgundy asked Helena.
Helena looked at Dale. “Jack Zorn Ducat,” he said. “After Laughing Jack, my adoptive brother Zorn, and my father Nolan Ducat.”
“Oh,” Helena said. “Mona nudged me.”
“Who?” Magenta asked.
“Mona. Desdemona Dryad. She animates my pendant.” Helena touched the amulet she wore around her neck. “She married Nolan, before she died. This baby is not of her line, but she's romantic. She likes having the baby with us. She's fairly close to him.” Indeed, the pendant hung just above her belly.
Sethrida smiled. “It is a good association. Now it is time for the remaining Sky Titans to return to their sky. I must caution them never to bother Pakk again, although other forces will.” She made a minor gesture, and the circle of Sky Titans reappeared, looming over them all. “Return to your home in the clouds, and remember your true purpose.”
“What is that purpose?” one Titan asked. “We were doing as King Tybalt directed.”
“To protect this planet, not despoil it,” the Sentinel said. “Tybalt was corrupted, and is no longer your king.”
The Sky Titans did not question this. They lifted off the ground, flying into the sky, and were soon gone.
The Sentinel oriented on the remaining group. “My work here is done. Virtue will remain with me for a time. She will bid you farewell.”
The form became Virtue. “Oh, Benny!” she said tearfully. She went to him and kissed him once more. Then she hugged each of the others in turn, Dale, Helena, Burgundy, Kolpak, and finally, Magenta, with special passion. “I will visit you when I can,” she said.
Which meant that Benny would get to see her again, on occasion, and perhaps hold her. That notion was precious.
Virtue stepped back and became Sethrida, who lifted a hand in parting and faded out.
They stood in numb silence for a moment. Then Dale spoke. “We must honor our dead before we go.”
They held a small ceremony for the dead, including Quill. Then they bid farewell also to Kolpak, who faced the sad chore of trying to organize the remaining frost dwarves to rebuild Alfen Gulfadex. There was work to be done all across the planet. Benny had invited Burgundy the dwarf to stay in Gant for a while, but the dwarf had other business in tracking down his former master, the wizard.
“One thing, Burgundy,” Dale said. Benny was surprised because Dale seldom, if ever, called the dwarf by his name. What was on his mind?
The dwarf was surprised too. “What?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
Now they were all curious. What could it be?
“Um,” Burgundy said noncommittally.
“My mother, the water spirit, is in this flask,” Dale said, holding it up. “The Kudgels poisoned the water of her pool. I was hoping the wizard could purify her so she won't die, and return her to safe water. But we never saw the wizard. I can't bear the thought of her dying like this. Now, if you find him—”
Burgundy didn't hesitate. He was clearly pleased and honored to be given a mission of this importance. “Yes, of course. I will guard it with my life.” He took the flask and put it carefully in his pack.
It was time for them to go home.
It was time for the festival of the winter solstice, which consisted mainly of feasting, and the Fox Den was preparing for a celebrating throng. Dale, Bum, and Liverwart were there, and of course Helena and Magenta, both obviously pregnant.
There was the sound of horses outside. Benny and the others went out to meet the visitors.
It was Nadia, the former barmaid, along with a scrawny man with curly blond hair. It was Benny's older brother Aiken!
“That's who Nadia left me for,” Dale said darkly.
“The bastard!” Benny exclaimed, and punched his brother hard in the face. The days when Aiken had pushed him around were long gone; Benny was now bigger and stronger. Aiken dropped to the ground.
“No!” Nadia screamed.
But Benny had more of a score to settle. He aimed a kick at the fallen man.
Dale caught him from behind and heaved him off the ground. “Don't be so quick to kill your other brother, too!”
“How can you forgive Aiken for abandoning me, and Nadia for leaving you?” Benny demanded.
Dale smiled as he carefully set Benny back on the ground, alert lest he renew his attack. “Virtue taught me forgiveness,” he said. “I have profited much by it. Remember, it even won Helena for me, on your suggestion. It truly can be better to forgive than to fight. Nadia and I weren't right together and we knew it. I am happy for Aiken and Nadia because they learned to love just as I did. They are right for each other. You should be happy too.”
Benny knew he was right, but couldn't make himself say so yet. He stood there, chewing his lip.
Aiken got up and approached, his hands spread. “Benny, I am so sorry for the way I treated you when we were youths,” he said. “I was never there for you. Far from it! I tried to drown my inadequacy in drink. But I can say for myself that I was not a complete loss. Winona came to me several times in my drunkenness and asked me to join her, but at least I had the gumption to refuse. I was a failure in life, but she would have made me evil. Then, at last, I connected with Nadia, and she got me off the drink and made a man of me.” He looked at her with open love.
“I knew too well what chronic drunkenness could lead to,” Nadia said. “I saw it every day at the tavern. But Laughing Jack told me of an herb that could help, if a man really wanted to be helped, and I gave it to Aiken.”
Aiken had refused Winona's blandishments even when drunk? There had indeed been a core of decency in him.
“Is there anything I can do, any possible way to make it up to you?” Aiken asked. “I want so much for it to be right between us.”
How could Benny hold a grudge against that? He was wrong to condemn the man, when so much had changed. “Just be the brother you should have been,” he said shortly.
Aiken hugged him. Benny wasn't actually too keen on that, but again, how could he refuse?
Then Nadia hugged him too, something he would have loved before he met Virtue. “Thank you for being so generous,” she said.
Generous? This was embarrassing. They were giving him far more credit than he deserved.
“Baby Laurel kicked me as you and Aiken embraced,” Magenta murmured. “I think she approves.”
“So does Mona,” Helena said, touching her pendant. “She loves it when families reunite.”
“I must travel,” Dale said. “But I think the journey is too arduous for you in your present condition. Stay with Benny while I'm gone.”
“Where are you going?” Helena asked him, surprised.
He lifted his own ash pendant, which she had given him. “I just got the urgent word, and it is not to be denied. I must visit a stubborn old man named Nolan Ducat. I hear he has a little girl dying to meet her half-brother.”
Helena laughed. “It's about time. Give them my greeting.”
“We'll take care of you,” Benny agreed, and Magenta nodded.
“One other thing, just in case,” Dale said. “Benny, remember long ago when Cycleze gave you a map that identifies where I buried much of my wealth?”
“I put it safely away,” Benny said. “I never really looked at it. I was never after wealth, yours or anyone else's.”
“Now I think you should use it to locate and take that wealth to rebuild and renovate Gant and the Fox Den. It can do everyone some good, and maybe make a place in the Gant River where my mother the water spirit can live safely, when Burgundy finds the wizard and saves her.”
Oh. “Of course,” Benny agreed. He wondered why this had come up at this moment. Then he saw Helena touch her ash pendant, and realized that the tree spirit wanted to help the water spirit. It did make sense. It would be wonderful to have them both in the vicinity, part of the larger family.
Epilogue
“A nd now, thanks to your unrelenting investigation into my personal life, it’s morning and I haven’t gotten a wink of sleep.” Pawben pointed at the window by the staircase, the first tree-filtered rays of sun illuminating the floor.
“Wow, you’re right Ben. I was so caught up in your tale I didn’t even notice. You’re going to be slap-ass tired for your trip home,” the tortoise said.
Pawben laughed and snapped his fingers, and then pointed back to the window. Toadstool was shocked to see it was once again night time. “Maybe the powers at hand will now let me get a good eight hours without sending me off to meet another dearly departed loved one.”
“Thank you for sharing the story, Ben. I know it must be hard to share so many bad memories.”
“They’re not bad…not all of them at least. Although I agree this tale was perhaps one of the most traumatic, to lose so much so soon in life.”
“Well, what was all that the Sentinel said
about possibly reuniting with your family on other worlds? I know you were a world jumper before retiring to our world, but did you make amends with your mother and brother like you’d hoped?” Toadstool asked.
The Pawben was moved by the question, and the tortoise quickly regretted his asking when he saw tears well up in the old human’s eyes. But there was some joy in the sadness.
“I have had no interaction with my mother or her spirit, although I still hold out hope for some form of amendment…”
Toadstool leaned forward “And Ammarod?”
Pawben smiled, “He and I did manage to help each other in our missions on other worlds, in a manner of speaking. You could say we made peace with each other.”
“Maybe one day you’ll share the details?” The tortoise tried to shield his question as more of a rhetorical statement, but it didn’t work for the Pawben.
“I dunno…certainly not now.” Pawben stood again and looked over at the small boy sleeping peacefully on the other end of the room and his heart filled with sorrow. “And then there’s the memory of what happened to my dear friend Dale Beranger, and his son…”
Toadstool sat silently as the old, bearded man and his staff descended the stairs. “You’ve always seemed to skirt over that tale, too,” he whispered to himself rather than Pawben.
“My fist is gonna skirt across your face if you don’t hush and let me sleep,” Pawben yelled from the couch downstairs.
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