Spells of forgetfulness had been placed into the minds of the surviving Valrenkian adults, and Tristan had ordered that they be taken to the Tammerland debtors’ prison, to serve life sentences with Lothar and his guards. After much discussion, it was decided that the best place for the Valrenkian children was the Tammerland orphanage, where they could become wards of the state while they awaited adoption. Word had it that many had already found good homes.
The Conclave mystics were still at a loss to understand what had happened to Serena and Clarice. All they knew for certain was that the Vagaries queen and her infant daughter were dead. The Scroll of the Vagaries had been recovered and was now safely ensconced in the Redoubt. Despite a thorough search, no trace of the formula used to bring Clarice back to life had been found, but scores of priceless Vagaries texts and scrolls had been recovered.
Tristan looked around the room. He found the celebration bittersweet, as he knew everyone secretly did. Tonight he would leave by Minion litter for the azure pass. Once there, he would use the Forestallment granted him by the Envoys to take him back to Crysenium.
As requested by the Envoys, his blood signature lean had been painstakingly altered to the vertical by Wigg, Faegan, and Jessamay. The process had been agonizing, but he seemed to suffer no ill aftereffects. He needed to go, for Crysenium was where his destiny lay. But the fact that he might never return still haunted him.
Wigg and Shailiha were especially depressed about his imminent departure. For that reason he had decided to take them as far as the pass. During his final Conclave meeting, he had made it abundantly clear that in his absence Shailiha would rule not just the Conclave, but the Minions and all of Eutracia, as well.
This celebration is as much a farewell for me as it is a wedding ceremony for Duvessa and Traax, he thought. After tonight, will I see this palace or any of these people ever again?
Just then Wigg walked up. After taking a sip of wine he looked Tristan in the eyes. The Paragon twinkled brightly as it lay against the wizard’s chest. Wigg’s expression was sad, searching.
“I know this is somewhat premature,” Wigg began. “But I just wanted to say that-”
Tristan quickly held up one hand. “I know,” he replied quietly as he looked into the old wizard’s aquamarine eyes. “I will never forget you, either.”
Wigg was about to speak again when a group of about forty men approached. They were of varying ages, and some had young girls and boys accompanying them. Each one reverently went to his knees and bowed his head before Tristan and Wigg. Tristan looked knowingly at the First Wizard, then back at them.
“Do not kneel before us,” Tristan said. “Please rise. All is forgiven.”
One of the men walked forward. He looked into Wigg’s eyes.
“On behalf of us all, we wish to thank you and theJin’Sai for saving us,” he said. “We owe you our lives, and the lives of our children.”
“No apology is needed, Nathan,” Wigg answered. “It is to the Vigors’ benefit that you and your fellow consuls have been returned to the fold.”
With tears in her eyes, Mallory approached. She curtsied toward Tristan and then toward Wigg.
“Thank you for bringing my father back to the Vigors,” she said. “I thought I had lost him forever.”
Things have come full circle, Tristan thought as he looked at the talented Fledgling. So much has changed, yet so much remains the same.
With the return of the Conclave to Tammerland, it was decided to try to bring the traitorous consuls back into the fold. Because the lean of their blood signatures had been so drastically altered, the Conclave mystics suspected that moving them rightward would be a long and painful process for the consuls to endure. They had been right.
It had taken two weeks of arduous work, but it had been worth it. Just as Adrian was the First Sister of the Acolyte order, the newly restored Consular order would now need a First Consul. Although he had yet to be told, the Conclave had unanimously voted to grant Nathan the post. Consuls in dark blue robes were finally prowling the Redoubt once more. But now they shared the underground labyrinth with the acolytes.
Feeling the need to be alone, Tristan excused himself. He walked across the floor, then went through one of the doors and onto the stone patio that surrounded the Great Hall. After a time he heard the sounds of boot heels. Without turning around, he knew that Tyranny was approaching.
They stood silently watching the sun set for a time. When she finally turned toward him, there were tears in her eyes. Her left arm was in a sling and she limped a bit, but her wounds would heal. True to form, she commandingly blinked her tears away.
“I’m not very good at good-byes,” she said quietly. “So I thought I would do it now.”
Tristan gave her a short smile. “I know,” he replied. “I’m no better.”
Tyranny gave him a soft kiss on one cheek. “Goodbye, Jin’Sai, ” she said. “You will be missed.”
“And good-bye to you,” he answered. “I hope to see you again one day.” Then he gave her another little smile. “Take good care of my Black Ships,” he added.
Tyranny started to answer, but she was suddenly too overcome. After giving him another kiss, she simply walked away.
While the merriment continued in the Great Hall, Tristan noticed that the sun had nearly disappeared.
Soon, now, he thought.
CHAPTER LXXII
AS TRISTAN STOOD LOOKING AT THE GLEAMING AZUREpass, a shudder went through him. He was about to abandon everyone he held dear and ride into an uncertain future. Suddenly the price of fulfilling his destiny seemed high indeed.
Wigg, Shailiha, and the warriors who had been posted here stood with him. The night was clear, and dawn would come soon. The stout litter bearers had flown all night. Another litter had brought Shadow along. Because Tristan and Xanthus had entered the pass on horseback, the prince thought it best to do so again.
His good-byes to everyone back at the palace had been emotional. After the wedding celebration had quieted, a receiving line had been formed in his honor. Tristan had walked down the line, bidding each person farewell and sometimes giving them last-minute orders. When he finally turned to walk away, there hadn’t been a dry eye in the room.
Tristan looked up toward the mountain peaks lining either side of the pass. The Envoys had revealed some of the Tolenkas’ secrets to him, but he knew that many more remained to be learned. As always, the shining pass rose so high that it disappeared into the fog gathering around the mountaintops.
Knowing that it was time to go, he turned and looked at Wigg and Shailiha. He walked over to Wigg and embraced him.
“Thank you for everything that you have taught me,” he said. “When all is said and done, there are no words…”
Wigg brushed away a tear. “I know,” he said.
“Watch over my sister as you would me,” Tristan said, trying to give the wizard a smile. “That is my last order to you.”
“On my life,” Wigg promised, his voice cracking a bit. “Stay safe.”
Tristan turned to take Shailiha in his arms. Despite her best efforts to be brave, she was shaking, and tears filled her eyes. Scowling, she composed herself and grabbed either side of his worn leather vest like she was never going to let go.
“Must it be this way?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered. “You know that as well as I. This is what I was born to do.”
“But what will I do without you?” she asked. She finally managed to give him a short smile. “After all, I’ve gotten pretty used to having my brother around.”
“You’ll do what I would do, if I was still here,” he answered. Tristan looked over at Wigg.
“Do you see that old man standing over there?” he asked. “Value his wisdom and guidance, and that of the other Conclave members. That is why I chose them. But also know that sometimes even the mystics can be wrong. When you make decisions, always follow your heart-even if some of your advisors disagree.”
&
nbsp; “Will I see you again?” Shailiha asked.
Tristan smiled. “You’re forgetting something,” he answered. He reached down and lifted the gold medallion from her chest. “Any time you want to visit me, call forth the spell,” he said.
A look of hope crossed the princess’s face. “Our medallions can bridge the western world to ours?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered. “I believe that is why Hoskiko provided us with the spell. She knew how difficult my leaving Eutracia would be.”
“I love you,” Shailiha said. Her voice was little more than a whisper.
“And I love you,” Tristan answered. “But now I must go.”
Tristan walked over to where Shadow stood waiting, then threw himself up into the saddle. Like he knew where they were about to go, the spirited black stallion danced about a bit before settling down. Wigg walked over to Shailiha and put one arm around her.
When Tristan looked down at them, his heart was in his throat. “I love you both,” he said softly. “Never forget that.”
Tristan wheeled Shadow around and headed for the pass. He stopped Shadow and raised his arms, calling on the Forestallment granted to him by the Envoys.
Wigg and Shailiha watched in awe as a white line formed on the face of the pass. Starting at the bottom, it soon climbed the surface of the pass to disappear into the clouds. Then the pass parted into halves, revealing a dark, seemingly limitless emptiness beyond. Without looking back, Tristan spurred Shadow into the abyss.
Then the pass closed, sealing theJin’Sai and its many secrets within.
CHAPTER LXXIII
AS ON HIS OTHER JOURNEYS THROUGH THE PASS, TRISTANcould feel Shadow moving beneath him, but he could hear nothing and see only azure. A dense fog surrounded him, its depths so all-encompassing that it appeared limitless.
Just then Shadow stepped from the fog. As the azure mist surrounding him disappeared, Tristan looked around. He was indeed in Crysenium. The room was the same one in which he had awakened during his first visit.
Relieved that he had arrived safely, he dismounted. Shadow danced nervously as the stallion took in his new surroundings. Tristan rubbed Shadow’s head and the horse calmed. After tying the reins to a nearby column, theJin’Sai looked around.
The crystalline, spherical chamber looked exactly as before. Dozens of azure columns rose from the shiny floor and reached high into the air. The transparent ceiling showed a beautiful blue sky overhead. Determined to find the Envoys, he started to take the short walk to the meeting room where he had learned so many revelations.
“Welcome back, Jin’Sai, ” a voice said. “I am glad that you have returned.”
Tristan spun around to see Xanthus in his human form. Xanthus still wore the familiar black leather duster with the dark robe beneath it. As he walked toward the prince he held his axe and shield in his hands.
“Xanthus,” Tristan breathed. “You’re alive…”
“So it would seem,” the Darkling answered. When Xanthus spoke, he spun his axe with one hand, its blade turning so quickly that it hummed through the air.
Tristan suddenly felt hisK’Shari rising without having been beckoned. He tried to stay calm by reminding himself that Xanthus was a friend. But he soon realized that it was no use. Deciding to trust his blood, Tristan eyed Xanthus warily.
“Where are the Envoys?” he asked.
“They await you in the meeting room,” Xanthus answered cryptically.
Tristan instinctively stepped backward to gain some breathing room. It did not go unnoticed by Xanthus. Spinning his axe again, he smiled.
“You see,” he said, “I am no longer the Envoys’ servant. After Faxon and I returned to Rustannica, thePon Q’tar discovered the deception. By the way, Faxon is dead. He died screaming like the traitorous pig that he was.”
A chill went down Tristan’s spine as he realized that hisK’Shari had been right to warn him. “You are again a servant of thePon Q’tar, aren’t you?” Tristan asked. “But when we said our farewells, you were firmly committed to the Envoys. The Envoys were about to change your memories with such finality that their deception would prove impossible to unravel, even by thePon Q’tar. ”
“All that is true,” Xanthus answered. “The Envoys did alter my memories. But they underestimated thePon Q’tar clerics. The clerics have devised a new spell called ‘the nautilus effect.’ They used it to uncover my true past-the past that the Envoys tried to hide.”
“What is the nautilus effect?” Tristan asked.
Xanthus shook his head. “I am not at liberty to say, Jin’Sai. But I will tell you this much: ThePon Q’tar have returned my blood signature to its original, deeply left-leaning state. I again serve them, and they have granted me a final chance to redeem myself. When I told them that you would return, they decided to send me back to kill you, rather than take you in. You have learned too much, you see. They want there to be no chance whatsoever of you contacting the Heretic rebels-even to the point that they are willing to give up the notion of taking you alive.”
“What killed Serena and Clarice?” Tristan demanded. “Did the Vagaries queen commit suicide and take her child with her?”
“Of course not, you fool,” Xanthus answered. “ThePon Q’tar killed her.”
“Why would they do that?” Tristan breathed. “ThePon Q’tar had so much invested in her… They had such plans for Clarice…”
“True,” Xanthus answered. “But as the Recluse became untenable, thePon Q’tar knew that it would be far better for Serena and Clarice to perish, rather than to fall into the hands of the Conclave. Serena trusted thePon Q’tar completely. They exploited that trust to trick her into using a spell to end her life and the life of her child. By the way, marking the envelopers and crashing one of your Black Ships through the Recluse drawbridge were very clever tactics. ThePon Q’tar clerics were impressed.”
“The Envoys will never let you take me,” Tristan protested.
“I think that they will,” Xanthus answered cryptically. He smiled again and raised his axe.
“You are about to die, Jin’Sai, ” he said. “You can either try to defend yourself, or simply let me kill you with one blow and grant you a quick death. Either way, your head goes back with me to Rustannica.”
Tristan narrowed his eyes. “Why would you attack me with your axe when you could easily kill me with the craft?”
When the Darkling didn’t answer, Tristan realized that he was onto something. He looked into Xanthus’ eyes.
“ThePon Q’tar clerics still don’t trust you completely, do they?” he demanded. “Despite their discovery of the so-called nautilus effect, they aren’t entirely sure that the Envoys didn’t plant some other spell or device into your being that remains to be found. Because of those misgivings, they stripped you of your gifts before sending you back to Crysenium. They want you to kill me, but they have limited your abilities in case you are still a traitor.
“I’m right, aren’t I, you hideous freak?” Tristan pressed. “Your craft powers have been compromised! That’s why you must appear to me in human form! The only way that you can kill me is by physical force! Because you plan to kill me with your axe, I suspect that they took everything from you but your gift ofK’Shari! Because they know that I do not command the same gift, they believe that I will be an easy kill for you! Tell me, Xanthus-how does it feel to be thePon Q’tar ’s castrated lapdog?”
To Tristan’s surprise, Xanthus smiled again. “Well done,” he said quietly. “They told me that you were a quick study. But you left something out. They promised that when I kill you, they will return all my past gifts to me. Moreover, I will be granted an even higher rank in the Imperial Order.”
“And you believed them, you fool,” Tristan answered. “Didn’t the way they betrayed Serena tell you anything?”
Xanthus’ smile vanished. “You had best let me kill you quickly,” he warned. “You cannot defeat me. I commandK’Shari, and you do not.”
Tristan d
rew his sword. With his free hand he slowly reached beneath his vest and produced something. He held it up before Xanthus’ eyes. It was the blank scroll that Aeolus had given him to confirm his mastery ofK’Shari.
Tristan had meant the scroll to be a symbolic gift to the Crysenium Envoys, marking his safe return. But now its symbolism would serve a far more deadly purpose. He tossed the scroll at Xanthus’ feet. As theJin’Sai started to circle his enemy he raised his weapon.
“My ears hear no begging,” Tristan whispered. “My eyes see no pain. My heart feels no remorse.” TheJin’Sai immediately felt his gift wash over him, empowering him and calming his center for the coming fight.
As the realization sank in, Xanthus stood stock-still for a moment. Knowing that there could be no going back, he too recited the three phrases and started to circle his opponent.
“I understand,” he said softly. “Since the first moment I saw you, I somehow knew that it would come to this.”
“As did I,” Tristan answered.
Xanthus’ first strike came so fast that Tristan barely saw it coming. Slipping to one side, theJin’Sai dodged the axe and brought down his dreggan. But Xanthus recovered quickly and lifted his shield. Sparks flew as Tristan’s dreggan struck it and slid harmlessly off to one side. Their first clash proving inconclusive, the warriors circled each other again.
Within an instant, they struck at each other simultaneously. With an earsplitting clang, Tristan’s blade and the Darkling’s axe came to a quick stop as Tristan’s blade caught in the joint where Xanthus’ axe head joined its handle. Struggling mightily, each stood his ground, trying not to be the first to back away.
Suddenly their weapon blades started to glow with the azure hue of the craft, and there came a thunderous explosion. Azure smoke rose, and the two combatants were thrust away from each other to go skidding across the shiny floor.
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