Patricia introduced everyone to Jonah, the personality she’d created in the Storm Lord’s old body. He seemed as confused as the rest of them, and Cordelia pitied him. He’d been created to worship one person, and she didn’t really exist anymore. The new Patricia even seemed ashamed of him. Cordelia wondered if she should make Patricia take him anyway as a reminder of what she’d done.
Then she had a better idea.
“Come to Gale, Jonah,” Cordelia said. “I could use your help, then you’ll be free to do whatever.”
He looked to Patricia. “Mistress?”
She winced. “It’s up to you, but I’d like it if you did what she said.”
It seemed as good as an order as far as he was concerned.
The next day, Patricia and the Moon left first, their worshipers loaded down with metal pieces. Shiv carried out the rest along with quite a bit of metal herself. They collected the yafanai rebels from the abandoned Sun-Moon camp and picked up Jon Lea, who’d been wandering around the mountains, looking for anyone.
Once out on the plains, Shiv stopped, declaring that now she’d take her tree into the swamp.
She and Pool stared at each other, and Cordelia bet it felt weird not feeling that familial connection. They pressed their foreheads together as two queens might. Lyshus stood to the side, looking between them, but Shiv didn’t seem as drawn to him as before. He really had no one, and Cordelia didn’t know if he’d ever have a drushkan connection again. Horace said he seemed to have lost the power to connect to queens’ trees, but as a drushka, he’d miss that fundamental bond the rest of them shared.
Her heart went out to him and she knelt, waving him over. “You’re coming home with us, kiddo.”
He grinned and gripped her hand. Nettle laid long fingers across Cordelia’s unarmored neck. “You never cease to be a wonder, Sa.”
Shiv was watching them with a bittersweet smile. “Will I ever have a tribe?”
“You are no longer a queen’s daughter,” Pool said sadly. “You should be able.”
“There is one way to find out,” Reach said as she stepped forward. “Queen,” she said to Pool, “long have I been in your branches, but you chose me as your ambassador to the humans for a reason. I enjoy stepping into the unknown.”
Shiv’s mouth fell open as Reach bowed her head. “Queen, may I enter the safety of your hands and branches?”
Shiv looked to Pool, her mouth working. “Shawness, are you sure?”
“It could mean your death,” Pool said.
Cordelia recalled the story of Lyshus’s parents, who died trying to take Shiv as their queen. But if the connection to Pool was truly severed…
Shiv reached a shaky hand behind her and rubbed her thumb against a sharp piece of bark until golden blood flowed. Reach took it with a smile and placed it in her mouth, drinking the blood, making a connection, before she pressed her forehead to Shiv’s.
The whole camp held its breath. Cordelia looked to Simon, who nodded. If Reach began to die, he was ready to help.
After a moment, both Shiv and Reach opened their eyes and smiled. “My queen,” Reach said softly.
Shiv threw her arms around Reach’s shoulders and pulled her close. “My shawness!”
Cordelia breathed out, relieved beyond words. Nettle lifted Lyshus in her arms and kissed his cheek. Cordelia wondered if she was thinking of her long-departed son. Lyshus wouldn’t be alone at all.
Shiv agreed to come with them as far as Pool’s tree so Reach could collect Little Paul. Then they’d venture together into the swamp to live for a time with the old drushka.
“So that we may sing a new story,” Shiv said when Cordelia asked why.
All that was left was to return to Gale and plan Liam’s funeral, someone who’d given his life in service to Gale. Cordelia invited everyone to get drunk with her, but even before that, she talked with Simon, Horace, Miriam, and Victoria about her plans for Jonah.
Miriam had been glaring at him since they’d met him. He might not have the Storm Lord’s brain, but that didn’t stop her from hating his face. Still, she agreed to Cordelia’s plan. If they couldn’t kick the Storm Lord’s ass, they could at least get rid of him for good in the eyes of their people.
All of Gale, including the rebel yafanai who’d been healed by Simon and Horace, watched as the “Storm Lord” told his people he’d been called back to heaven, and that they should go back to doing things the way they’d done before he’d arrived, with everyone working together and relying on one another.
Then he vanished in a puff of fire, much to the delight of the crowd.
Under a telepathic shield, Cordelia sneaked him out of the city and loaded him with supplies. Simon changed his appearance, darkening his hair, eyes, and skin. In the garb of a plains dweller, he walked wonderingly toward Wuran’s camp, and from there, who knew?
“Is Pool going back into the swamp?” Cordelia asked as she watched Jonah walk into the plains. Everyone else had faded back inside the city, gearing up for a massive party to celebrate Liam’s life. There’d be plenty of time for tears then, but for now, Cordelia wrapped herself in hope.
“Perhaps, Sa, but whether she does or not, I will stay with you.” She nuzzled Cordelia’s cheek.
Cordelia turned to her, heart lifting in her chest. “Won’t you miss them?”
“I would miss you more. Besides, Horace will need a new drushkan ambassador when he runs for mayor.”
Cordelia barked a laugh. “Well, he won’t be bored then!”
“Ahya. I love you, my paladin captain.”
“I love you, too, my drushkan ambassador.”
They kissed for a long time, and if anyone saw, they didn’t interrupt, much to Cordelia’s happiness. No one wanted to get in the way of human-drushkan diplomacy, after all.
Epilogue
Lydia looked back at Gale and heard the sounds of celebration in the dying light. People were laughing and singing, all of them celebrating the mayor’s life. It seemed a world away from the small campfire she lay in front of with her head resting on Fajir’s taut stomach.
“Do you wish you were there?” Fajir asked.
“Not even a little.” Lydia turned her head to the side and nuzzled Fajir’s bare skin. Their tent lay just behind them, but with no one else around and the evening pleasantly cool, Lydia saw no reason to hurry inside, enjoying the heat of the fire.
“No regrets?”
Lydia frowned. “Are you going to keep asking me if I’m happy until I have to show you with more sex?”
Fajir paused for a moment. “Yes.”
With a laugh, Lydia tickled her. “I got what I needed from them.” It had been simpler than she thought. When she’d told Simon that she didn’t want her power, he’d taken it within moments, and it hadn’t even hurt. She knew it was silly, but she felt lighter after it was gone, never to tempt or trap her again.
“That seems a very selfish thought from someone who cares as much as you,” Fajir said.
Lydia surged upward, pinning Fajir back. Her black hair spread over the blanket, and she smiled, eyes sparkling in the light. She could get loose in a moment, but the fact that she didn’t and the feel of their bodies pressed together made Lydia warm with desire. She kissed Fajir soundly, all thoughts of visions or grief departing.
“Where shall we go tomorrow?” Fajir asked.
“Wherever you like. I only have one errand to run.”
Fajir quirked an eyebrow.
“I have to convince Samira to find Mamet and either give her a proper good-bye or a proper apology.”
Fajir groaned.
Lydia kissed her again. “You don’t have to come. And I don’t have to see her until tomorrow, so…” She glanced at the tent as the wind picked up. “It’s getting a little chilly.”
With a grin, Fajir rolled them into the tent, making Lydia laugh, and she didn’t need a special power to look forward to the future.
Selected Cast
Caroline Gerard—D
eceased telepathic yafanai, Dillon Tracey’s lover, and Evan Tracey’s mother. Killed by Simon Lazlo.
Cordelia Sa Ross—Former lieutenant in the paladins, Paul Ross’s niece, Liam Carmichael’s best friend, and Nettle’s lover. Has the ability to astral project and can speak to Pool and Simon Lazlo in spirit form.
Dillon Tracey, aka the Storm Lord—Colonel from the Atlas, god of Gale, electrokinetic, and father of Evan Tracey and many other children. Thought to have been killed by Simon Lazlo and a worshiper of Marie Martin’s. Now living in the body of Liam Carmichael.
Enka—A drushkan hunt leader for the Shi and the poisoner of Gale.
Evan Tracey—Dillon Tracey’s firstborn with Caroline Gerard.
Fajir—A Sun-Moon worshiper, widow, and seren (captain) of the palace guard. Formerly bonded with the deceased Halaan.
Freddie—Deceased lover of Lydia Bauer. Killed by a prog in the siege of Gale.
Halaan—Deceased Sun-Moon worshiper, Fajir’s lover and partner.
Horace Adair—Telepathic and micro-psychokinetic yafanai, Simon Lazlo’s lover.
Jacobs—Private in the paladins.
Jon Lea—Lieutenant in the paladins.
Jonah—The personality created by Patricia Dué to reside in the former body of Dillon Tracey.
Kora—Deceased plains dweller who was a vessel for Naos. After her mind was destroyed, her body was taken over by Patricia Dué.
Liam Carmichael—Former lieutenant in the paladins, now mayor of Gale. Linda Carmichael’s son, Shiv’s lover, and Cordelia Ross’s best friend. Dillon Tracey now resides in his body.
Little Paul—Reach’s adopted human son, an orphan from Gale.
Lydia Bauer—Prophetic yafanai. Fled Gale after the death of her lover, Freddie.
Lyshus—A drushkan child with a unique bond to Shiv.
Mamet—Plains dweller, Engali, and Samira Zaidi’s lover.
The Moon, aka Meredith Marlowe—Former lieutenant on the Atlas, god of the Sun-Moon worshipers along with the Sun, telepathic, macro-psychokinetic, and permanently bonded telepathically with the Sun.
Natalya Conti—Deceased macro- and micro-psychokinetic yafanai. Killed when Patricia Dué took up residence in the body of Kora.
Naos—Entity who took over Patricia Dué’s body during the Atlas accident. Macro- and micro-psychokinetic, telepathic, prophetic, and pyrokinetic. Was living in space. Crashed the Atlas.
Nettle—A drushkan hunt leader, Cordelia Ross’s lover.
Nico—A Sun-Moon worshiper, widow, and was second in command to Fajir.
Pakesh—Former plains dweller, telepath, and macro-psychokinetic. Living in Gale.
Patricia Dué—Former copilot on the Atlas, macro- and micro-psychokinetic, and telepathic. Fled her former body which had been taken over by Naos and now resides in the body of Kora. She revived Dillon Tracey’s old body, turning him into her servant Jonah. She also put Dillon’s mind in Liam’s body.
Pool—The Anushi (first) queen of the drushka, Shiv’s mother, and bonded with the youngest tree of the original nine drushkan queens. She has a special bond with Cordelia Ross and Simon Lazlo.
Reach—Former drushkan ambassador to Gale, a shawness (healer), Little Paul’s mother.
Samira Zaidi—Macro-psychokinetic yafanai, Simon Lazlo’s best friend, and Mamet’s lover.
Shiv—A young drushkan queen with a young sapling, Pool’s daughter, and Liam Carmichael’s lover. Has a unique bond with the child, Lyshus.
Simon Lazlo—Former botanist and biologist aboard the Atlas, micro-psychokinetic, Horace Adair’s lover, and Samira Zaidi’s best friend.
The Sun, aka Charles Christian—Former lieutenant on the Atlas, god of the Sun-Moon worshipers along with the Moon, telepathic, pyrokinetic, and permanently bonded telepathically with the Moon.
Wuran—Chafa (chief) of the plains dwelling Uri.
Creatures and Terms
Ahya/Ahwa—Drushkan terms meaning emphatic affirmative/negative.
Boggins—Squat, swamp dwelling creatures that nearly destroyed Gale.
Breachie—a member of the satellite pantheon who wasn’t part of the bridge crew.
Geavers—Very large, long-necked pack animals used by the plains dwellers.
Grelcat—Furred predators that stalk the plains.
Joora—a wading bird.
Hoshpis—Large beetle-like creatures that the Galeans use for meat, leather, and mead.
Ossors—Large, two-legged insects that the Sun-Moon worshipers and plains dwellers ride.
Pross Co.—The company that originally sent the Atlas into deep space.
Progs—Large, long swamp predators that nearly destroyed Gale.
Shawness(i)—Drushkan healers.
Shi—leader of all drushka.
Shi’a’na—Drushkan word for mother.
About the Author
Barbara Ann Wright writes fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories when not ranting on her blog. The Pyramid Waltz was one of Tor.com’s Reviewer’s Choice books of 2012, was a Foreword Review BOTYA Finalist, a Goldie finalist, and made Book Riot’s 100 Must-Read Sci-Fi Fantasy Novels By Female Authors. It also won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best Lesbian Fantasy. She’s won four other Rainbow Awards and has been a Lambda Award finalist.
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