'Us also,' said Arducius.
Jhered pulled them into embraces, one after another, holding them close, patting their backs.
'Look after Kessian for me,' said Jhered. 'He is all that remains of Mirron.'
'And he is as close to our hearts.'
'I know. Safe journey. And be good. My crew will report and I don't want to be disappointed.'
The three of them laughed and Jhered waved them up the gangplank. It was raised almost immediately and the captain ordered the ship push out into the harbour. No fanfare, no civic farewell. Just a Gatherer ship rowing sedately out into the Tirronean Sea on a beautiful, Omniscient-blessed morning.
Jhered stood and watched until the ship was out of sight around the south fort. He smiled to himself, nodded and turned away, deciding a walk back to the palace was in order. Something inside him refused to believe that this really was the end of the Ascendancy, and of his work with those two fine young men. After all, the cork was pulled from the jug. Could it really be stoppered back up?
Whatever the will of the people, and their attitudes, Ascendants were alive and would still walk the earth. Hidden, maybe. Out of the reach of friend or enemy. But alive. Jhered wondered what that meant for the balance of the world and how the Omniscient would deal with them. As faithful disciples or as threats. A conundrum that only a God had the authority to solve and there was some real satisfaction to be found in that thought.
Jhered turned and looked back out past the harbour. A small white cloud was floating out beyond the south fort. It was travelling against the wind and was the shape of an upturned mouth. He laughed out loud, turning a few heads.
'You cheeky little bastard.'
Jhered swung about a final time and walked back up the hill towards the palace, his Advocate, and the rebuilding of the Estorean Conquord.
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