“I know you are no god, Mithris. I…I am not sure what you are, or where you came from. But I’m not as superstitious as most of our people.” She hesitated, then added, “I think I would like to find out more about you.”
Mithris grinned again. “Then let’s get away from here,” he suggested. “Is there somewhere else on this island we could go live? Where they wouldn’t bother us any?”
It was Melendra’s turn to grin. “I have heard of a place,” she told him. “Far at the northern end of the jungle.”
“Sounds like a dangerous trip,” Mithris muttered to himself.
“I will be with you,” announced Lothar. Mithris had not noticed Melendra’s brother get up off the ground and come to stand with them. He eyed the spearman warily. It was Lothar, after all, who had gotten him into this to begin with.
The hunter looked down at the ground, shame coloring his cheeks. “I must apologize, Mithris,” he said. “That vile creature posed as our people’s god for too long. Only my sister was able to see through his lies. My own eyes were opened too late. I do not believe I can ever make full amends, but let me accompany you. My spear will ever defend you.”
He turned his head toward Melendra. “And you, of course, sister. I would not be separated from you. I thought I had lost you to the Inferno. I could not bear it.”
Loving tears spilled from Melendra’s eyes, and she smiled with obvious joy.
Epilogue
Mithris stood atop a hill that overlooked a sparkling bay. The harbor was protected by two long spars of land to either side, and waves crashed over a distant coral reef blocking the open end. The jungle gave way a mile inland from this shore, and on the plain between wilderness and beach Mithris had made a fair start on his tower.
It was not a wizard’s tower. Mithris was no longer a wizard. He grinned at that thought, surveying his handiwork.
Of course, it was slow going with no magic to call on. The structure of stone and wood was only a single story so far, but he had divided that floor into several rooms and had begun the construction on the second floor. However, he was pleased with his progress. It was difficult for him to believe it had already been six months since his arrival in this foundation.
He’d planted a large garden to one side of the fledgling tower, and even now he could see Melendra among the vegetables.
The two of them had become very close these last six months. When he was with her, he didn’t miss Vapor so much.
Nevertheless, it still stung. The foundation crystal had been his ever-present companion. He had thought of the airstone as his friend. Now Vapor was gone.
Footsteps sounded behind him. Mithris did not whirl around. He no longer feared anyone sneaking up behind him. Eaganar was destroyed. There were no other wizards in the Final Foundation. Raktars were a bit of a problem, but other than that he had nothing to fear.
Lothar came up beside him, a brace of wild jungle hares hanging over his shoulder. The hunter followed Mithris’ gaze and he too smiled.
“My sister gathers the vegetables, and I have brought the meat,” he told Mithris. “That means it’s your turn to wash up after the meal.” Lothar paused, then added, “Again.”
Mithris glanced meaningfully at the dead hares. “Rabbit,” he said, then imitated Lothar’s deep voice. “Again.”
Lothar laughed, and moved off down the hill. He would go to the tower — it was more of a house, Mithris decided — to skin the hares for dinner. It was a nice little life they were building here, but Mithris would have given a lot for a decent steak-and-kidney pie once in a while.
Sighing, he started off down the hill after Lothar. But a stirring breeze brought him up short, and Mithris found himself listening to the wind that sighed its way out over the bay.
Enjoy it, the wind seemed say. And do not grieve for us. We are eternal. Though we are no more in this plane, we exist in others.
Had he really heard the faint voice on the air? Or was it only his imagination?
Mithris thought he knew the answer. Grinning wider than ever, he hurried down the hill to Melendra with joy in his heart.
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About the Author
Trip Ellington was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He has worked as a website designer, a Computer Science teaching assistant at the University of North Carolina, and as an intern at a magazine publisher.
He eventually trained as a teacher, earning degrees in History and Computer Science during his time as an undergraduate at UNC and a master’s degree in teaching at NCSU.
He currently writes fiction as an independent author full time.
Trip lives in Greensboro with his wife, plus two dogs and a cat.
For more information:
www.tripellington.com
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Also by Trip Ellington
EverMage: Clash of Chaos
Game Alive
Gauntlet of Time
The Engineer’s Escape
Outbreak
Bond of Magic Page 27
