I bounced with joy and blew them kisses.
More were coming—many of whom I didn't recognize. If I'd had Bree's talent, I would have known who they were.
Or Zaria's.
Wait—she wasn't with Ilya and the others. What had happened to Zaria?
* * *
Quin
Justis blinked at the endless parade of people who strode toward our dais. Following the mighty unicorn, gryphon and snow leopard were Dragon, Drake, Drew, Travis and Trent. They'd split up and took the stance of guards around us.
Joining them were Ilya, Bleek, Rigo, Halimel, Turtle, Flyer and a few others.
Still, there were people coming.
From where? Justis turned his head to look at me.
I was overwhelmed and couldn't answer because of who came next—or what, I couldn't decide.
One man marched in front of more than a thousand others, and behind him, those others transformed from men to trees to animals and everything else in between.
Pod'l-morphs, Bleek's voice sounded in my mind.
"Pod'l-morphs," I breathed aloud. "How wondrous."
And then—Justis, I sent. Those following the pod'l-morphs. Those are—Sirenali. Whole Sirenali.
There were roughly a thousand of those. Whomever these were, surely they'd been deemed trustworthy.
And then—I was standing and screaming with everyone else in the bowl as Avii swooped in from nothing—led by Ardis and Dena, who held her baby in her arms as she flew.
I was in Justis' arms and he was weeping, just as I was, when those three landed on our dais. Ardis knelt at our feet.
Justis let me go and raised Ardis, before embracing him.
Dena came to me; we embraced, with the baby between us. I knew not how this miracle was achieved, but I was grateful for it anyway.
"I missed you so much," I whispered in Dena's ear.
"We were never really gone," she whispered back. "I still don't understand it myself."
I wanted to ask her who was responsible, but she didn't know.
It didn't matter. My friend was back, and my tears were accompanied by laughter.
* * *
Lissa
Yes, the screams and cries were happy ones as a huge, family reunion took place in the bowl of Avii Castle. Avii hugged and laughed and shouted as their lost friends and family found them.
"You should see Cloudsong right now," Bree said.
"Huh?" I whirled to face her.
"You wouldn't recognize it," she shrugged. "It's a restored world, and all those people from Carek Prime are there. Devarr still has a kingdom—if he wants it."
"But," I said.
"I'll explain later," she chuckled. "Or, I'll let her do it."
"Her?" I blinked at my sister.
Bree pointed behind me.
I turned back—I thought the return of the Avii was the last miracle we'd witness in the bowl.
I was wrong.
A tall, blue Larentii woman walked in. The crowd that arrived parted to let her through.
Behind her walked four that I knew. Or had known.
I stopped breathing for a moment.
Berel and Edden spread wide, blue wings as they flanked Zaria.
On the opposite side, red wings spread.
Wellend and Warlend.
"Their lives as Karathians and Siriaans have ended. Their lives as Avii are just beginning," Bree's sigh sounded happy.
Then, perhaps the most wondrous thing of all happened.
Zaria's wings—shining in Avendor's sun, spread out. White and gleaming, they were blinding in that brightness. In her arms, Zaria carried a large book.
The First Ordinance.
As Zaria began to pass the crowd of Avii, the change started.
"Oh, my God," I whispered in awe.
"Exactly," Bree laughed.
* * *
Quin
Dena's wings changed, even while we embraced.
I stepped back, my mouth open in wonder. "How?" I asked. Her wings—were now multicolored.
Beautiful.
They carried all colors belonging to the Avii—except one.
There was no red.
"Quin, your wings," Dena breathed, wiping wetness from her cheeks.
I spread out my left wing to take a look. My feathers were growing back, and those I hadn't lost to the molt were—red.
Except for a thin band of white, which separated the bands of copper, silver and gold at the ends of my primaries.
Ashe said it was a gift from the Avii Guardian. Kay had accomplished the impossible, I think.
It wasn't me, dear, Kay informed me. Look up. You will see her.
* * *
Zaria
"Hi, baby." I smiled down at Quin.
"Zaria?" Quin and Dena blinked at me, Dena with worship in her eyes.
"Yes, it's me," I said. "How are you feeling?"
As I was in Larentii form, it was no trouble for me to lift Quin in my arms and give her a warm hug.
"You changed their wings," Quin said.
"I did. Liron was an asshole who thought people belonged only in their own little niche. Now, the Avii get to choose who'll they'll be. Except for the royalty, of course. I left Gurnil and Ordin's wing color alone, too—they're two of the few who deserve to stand out.
"Quin?"
She looked down to see Berel standing beside us, with Edden nearby.
"Berel, you have blue wings," Quin stuttered, as if she imagined herself to be dreaming.
"I do. Justis said I deserved blue wings. Zaria says so, too."
"I love you," Quin said.
I set Quin in Berel's arms—they had a happy reunion to hold.
Yes, I'd been afraid the whole time I was collecting souls inside the spheres I'd stolen.
I'd carefully placed them in stasis, and laid a powerful spell for them to be released if I weren't alive to do it myself.
I couldn't imagine that the Three would eliminate those lives afterward; I was doing my best to save everyone I could, including Hulce.
I'd stood on the bridge of Cayetes' ship, shielded by my own power and by the power of the device I'd taken. Cayetes had built devices large enough and strong enough to hide an entire fleet of ships—even from the most powerful gods.
All those devices were destroyed when Paricos II exploded—I saw to that.
And, just to make sure of things, I'd released V'ili's and Vardil's particles, right before their ship was consumed by the final blast that eliminated Paricos II.
I'd packed the core of the planet with explosives and enough power beforehand, to make sure the job was finished.
I'd also considered Liffel's Proverb, and decided not to take any chances.
"What about Cayetes and that filth, V'ili?" Justis tapped my arm.
I looked down at him. As a winged Larentii, I could do that.
"Dead, and it was such a pleasure to see it happen," I smiled at him.
* * *
Lissa
Zaria was in her smaller form at the reception that followed the ceremony. This was a smaller crowd, comprised of those invited by Ashe to the big house.
"Zaria is the Guardian of the Avii, Sirenali, the pod'l-morphs and those of Cloudsong," Connegar smiled down at me. "It is a great honor for a Larentii to be designated as such."
"I can't get over the wings," I said.
"She only has wings as a Larentii," Connegar pointed out gently.
"I think she'll have wings any time she wants," I snorted a laugh.
"Shall we?" Charles placed a glass of wine in my hand. "I know you have questions for Zaria. We'll retire to the solarium, so you can have your answers."
* * *
Zaria
Lissa's first question was straightforward and to the point.
I almost didn't want to answer it.
"Yes, they would have died," I said bluntly. "All of them." I couldn't stop the shiver that went through me. "Those larger devices Cayetes built�
�they were powerful enough to hide him from anybody, including the most powerful among us."
"You were willing to risk a final death at the hands of the Three?" Lissa asked. She was right—if the Three had chosen to destroy me, I would never be reborn.
"Yes. I felt it was worth it."
"The wing colors—that's a stroke of genius," Ashe lifted a glass to me from his place near the door.
"I can't tell you how many times I watched Dena sighing after black wings," I stated flatly. "Others were much the same—they desired something besides what they'd apparently been born to do. It disgusted me, as did Liron's decision to do it in the first place. Now, they get to work for what they want and wing color be damned."
"You went back to that time?" Lissa asked.
"Yeah. I watched as Ranos destroyed itself at the last, with weapons it shouldn't have had. Speaking of which," I turned back to Ashe, "I've destroyed those devices and taken the memory of them away. Hulce doesn't recall making them, I'm sorry to say. He'll never create another, either. Kooper, those replication bots were also destroyed—with Paricos I. Those bots were making the larger devices there at the last—to cover entire fleets of ships."
"I have no problem with that," Kooper waved a hand.
"Neither do I," Ashe agreed.
"What about Lexsi, Kory, Kell and Opal?" Lissa asked.
"Sent back to Earth in the past. Opal and Kell remember, but Kory and Lexsi won't until they return to this timeline. They agreed to that, by the way. They understand how this could interfere with the past if we're not careful."
"Good," Lissa nodded. "Thank you."
"What about the containment spheres Marid hid?" Bill Jennings asked.
"I took those off his hands and replaced them with harmless, empty ones," I said.
"Where are those spheres now?" Gavin wanted to know.
"In the safest place imaginable, with so many shields around them they'll never get out again."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"What about Cloudsong? Will it be isolated, like Carek Prime?" Trajan asked. "After all, Cloudsong was refused membership in the Alliance—in perpetuity—by Ildevar Wyyld."
I smiled at Trajan's question. "The Reth Alliance isn't the only Alliance," I said. "Ildevar offered to nullify that decree, but I told him it was all right. Cloudsong will petition the Campiaan Alliance for membership, soon. I'd suggest," my gazed settled on Gavril, who sat near his mother, Lissa, "that you seriously consider that request. Hulce has plenty of good ideas—aside from making those devices."
"Are you kidding?" Gavril shrugged. "Come have coffee with me some morning. We'll hammer out an agreement."
"Good enough. I'll bring Devarr, although he prefers tea."
* * *
Ilya
I'm sure most people feel uncomfortable under the gaze of the Mighty Heart. She'd passed judgment on me once, and I'd served a sentence lasting thousands of years.
I'd been called into her presence again, once the meeting with Zaria ended. Most had gone to the hospital tent to visit the young Sirenali.
We stood on the flagstones surrounding the pool outside the big house. Breanne studied me for several minutes, which only served to increase my discomfort.
"How much do you love her?" she asked.
"I would give my life for her."
"Sincerely?"
"Sincerely."
"Good enough."
I felt the change, although there was no pain. "How?" I blinked at Breanne when it was finished. "How has she lived with this?"
"Ask her yourself."
* * *
Zaria
I walked among the cots, tables and beanbag chairs scattered beneath the tent. The young Sirenali appeared to have a thirst for knowledge; many had made themselves comfortable on the beanbags and leafed through books containing words and pictures. Many of Gurnil's former blue wings went from child to child, helping them read their first words.
"Zaria?" he said, his voice sounding tentative.
"Ilya?" I turned toward him.
My heart stopped.
"Cabbage?" he held his arms open. I was in them immediately.
I wanted to ask him how much of both lives he remembered, but I'd already seen the answer in his face.
He remembered everything.
* * *
Quin
"We have six this time," Lissa smiled at me when she arrived to receive a new batch of saving spheres.
"I have them here," I set a hand on the spheres lying on the library table. "Zaria brought us so many more," I added. "All those spheres she took from Liron to save so many, are now in the hidden room. We should have enough with plenty to spare."
"I don't think much gets past her," Lissa smiled and took the chair opposite mine. "How are things going here?"
"There has been some confusion regarding wing colors, but Justis is sorting things out," I ducked my head to hide the smile. "We've had several who wish to train with the guards instead of making beds. Dena is one of them."
Lissa threw back her head and laughed.
* * *
Six Eight-days Later
Avii Castle, Avendor
Phrinnis Tampirus
"You're prickly tonight." Zaria stepped onto the outside balcony and passed my cactus as if she were used to seeing such every day.
My heart was full after receiving the gift she'd given me—the entire grove of pod'l-morphs we'd found on Siriaa.
I was no longer alone.
Soon, she promised, we'll find a place for all of you to grow and thrive as you wish. And, since you're immune to the Sirenali obsession, I imagine you may share a world with the few of those I saved.
For three centuries, she'd allowed the rescued pod'l-morphs to sleep as trees in the soil of Avendor. It had taken that soil and the wondrous atmosphere surrounding SouthStar to bring them back from Liron's curse.
I'd met other Larentii, too, when she carried me back to the Larentii Archives. There, she'd placed a crate of poison spheres, which were so heavily shielded that none of it would ever escape.
The type of sphere I'd been hunting, to destroy myself.
Nefrigar, the Archivist, had taken that crate and hidden it somewhere inside the Archives' massive structure, so none would ever find it.
I'd also been told that I was welcome in the Archives whenever I wished to visit. I wanted to visit often, as a world of learning had opened that I never thought to see.
"Zaria, my love," I became humanoid and went to wrap her in my arms.
"Phrinnis Tampirus, you make me happy," she sighed and melted against me.
* * *
Epilogue
Larentii Archives
Nefrigar, Chief Archivist
"What will happen, Father, when Quin reads those commands in the First Ordinance?" Valegar asked.
"Those commands were meant for a puppet," I answered. "Love and Wisdom found her when she was roughly six years of age, as humanoids count time. They gave her a part of themselves—a soul. After that, killing Zaria would never have occurred to Quin, because she was no longer wholly Liron's. When Zaria Changed What Was and brought Quin back from death, she was completely freed from him and his meddling."
"Will those words upset Quin, then? That Liron commanded her to kill Zaria?"
"She understands who and what Liron was, my child. She is grateful that he is gone and that Zaria has been named Guardian of the winged ones. I may find it amusing, however, when those of New Fyris learn that Zaria is also Guardian for them."
The End
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