Key of Stars

by Bruce R Cordell

  “Angul will serve as a remembrance, forever,” Erunyauvë said.

  “Well done,” said Thoster. The captain doffed his hat and stared at the earth.

  They stood there for a long time then, wrapped in quiet, regarding the monument.

  The Nathlekh City bell tolled again. Time didn’t care about sorrow, reflected Japheth. It just ran on and on, grinding out lives and dreams as it rushed ceaselessly forward.

  “I’ve lingered long enough in Faerûn,” Erunyauvë said. “I must return to the Watch, and discover the new shape of things along the void.”

  “But you’re giving up your title,” said Anusha. “You don’t have to go back right away. Stay with us awhile and see what you helped save.”

  The eladrin smiled. “The wardenship of the Spire of the Moon may soon pass from me, true,” she said. “But I’ve spent too many years dedicated to keeping the border safe to leave it for long, until I’m assured my successor is chosen and has things in order. However, regardless of my position there, know that any of you will be welcome if you venture again to Forever’s Edge.”

  “I’d like that, to see you again,” Anusha said.

  Taal approached Erunyauvë. “I’d like to return with you now, if you’ll have me back,” he said. “I have amends to make along the watchtowers.”

  The eladrin nodded. “I’m glad to hear it, Taal,” she replied. “The Watch could use your help, to put right the ill effects Malyanna’s slow betrayal wrought over the centuries.”

  “Thank you,” Taal said.

  Thoster said, “I should take my leave too. I need to procure another ship.”

  “I’d think you’d had enough of ships,” Japheth said.

  “The sea’s in my blood, warlock!” Thoster replied. “And I ain’t quite ready to give up my captain’s title. I’ve gotten used to it.”

  “It suits you,” Anusha said.

  “Westgate is close,” said Japheth. “You could find yourself a ship there in no time.”

  “Exactly what I was thinking,” replied the captain. “And from the sound of things, Xxiphu’s been hanging over the Sea of Fallen Stars for more than fifty years; to most, it’s always been floating up there. I hear it hasn’t been too much of a threat, at least lately. But all of us know the horrors that crawl inside that hollow seed.”

  “So what?” Japheth said.

  “Well, it bears watching, is all,” Thoster said. “By someone who has dealt with the likes of those aboleths before. Once I find a ship to my liking, and a crew, and a steady income stream—”

  “From piracy?” said Yeva.

  “I’ve taken ownership of the occasional Amnian merchantman’s cargo, true enough,” said the captain. “And I don’t regret it. However, we’ve skipped ahead decades, and things are different. From what I’ve been able to gather, trade along the Inner Sea is good. It ain’t anywhere near where it was before, but it’s a damn sight better than what I was dealing with back in the 1390s. I think I’ll give honest shipping a go. Besides, with my advantages, I figure I’ll earn a king’s bounty in short order.”

  “Could you use a first mate?” Yeva asked.

  Thoster’s smile slipped. “Everyone I promoted to that position of late has turned up dead,” he said. “It might not be a healthy post to accept.”

  “I’m made of sterner stuff than most, remember,” said Yeva. “Nor can I drown if I fall overboard. Though I might rust.”

  The captain’s grin returned, and he clapped her on the shoulder. He winced at the impact, but said, “How could I forget? I would be honored, my lady, to have someone as accomplished and as, um, solid as you to help me out.”

  Eventually only Japheth and Anusha remained at the gravesite. Japheth watched the sun wester. The orb struck shimmering highlights off the distant Lake of the Long Arm.

  Anusha nudged him. “You all right?” she asked.

  “Sure,” he said. “It’s just we’ve been caught up in this thing for so long. I don’t really know what’s next. Do you want to back to New Sarshell? I can try to work out a shortcut with my cloak and Neifion’s castle as a stopover.”

  “Hmm. Things have probably changed beyond recognition. Marhana Manor will no longer be mine to claim. On the other hand, I hear Behroun isn’t dead.”

  “What? That weasel half brother of yours would have to be over a hundred years old!”

  Behroun was the author of many of the ills that had befallen Japheth. The merchant had manipulated him by threatening to destroy his pact stone, and the mere thought of the man’s smirking face made his blood boil.

  “Knowing him, he’s used foul magic to extend his life,” Anusha said.

  Japheth shook his head. “I wouldn’t mind paying him a visit,” he replied. “A last visit.”

  “He does have much to answer for. But I don’t think I’m up for confronting him. For us, only days have passed. For Behroun, eighty years have gone by.”

  “Ah yes,” Japheth said, sighing. “I keep forgetting what that actually means.”

  Whatever the man was up to, he wasn’t the same person who’d blackmailed Japheth. He might have reformed. Or have become irredeemably evil. Either way, he probably hadn’t given the warlock and his missing half sister even a passing thought in more than half a century.

  “Maybe you’re right,” he said. “At the very least, I do have something to thank him for. Without his grimy schemes, I’d never have met you.”

  She smiled. “See? There you go,” she said. “Everyone has something to offer.”

  They watched the horizon take a bite out of the sun. Dust in the air painted the sky iridescent orange.

  “I would like to return to Impiltur eventually,” she said. “But not immediately. After so much time, it’ll be different. I’d rather go somewhere completely new. Someplace I don’t have any expectations. We could go anywhere!”

  It still made him almost giddy when she used the word “we.”

  He gazed at her. The slanting rays of fading day made her angelic. She was everything to him, bright and vital, and filled with eagerness for life. Just being near her made him glad. He was beginning to believe she felt the same about him.

  “What’re you thinking?” Anusha asked.

  “Oh, that you’re wonderful,” he said. “And about the future. Can we make our way in a world that’s forgotten us?”

  “Let’s find out, Japheth,” she replied. “Together.”

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  Anusha Marhana (a-NOO-shah mar-HAN-a)

  Once the spoiled daughter of the Marhana merchant family whose dreams proved a little too real, Anusha learned she could fashion a body composed of dream and walk and interact in the waking world. Anusha is the younger half sister of Behroun Marhana. She does not share her older half brother’s designs on nobility.

  Captain Thoster (THAWH-stir)

  The captain of the pirate ship Green Siren. Thoster is generally considered to be without conscience but not without his own peculiar sense of honor. He often boasts his blood is “unclean,” though what he means by such claims remains unclear—but that is becoming less true.

  Japheth (JA-feth)

  A pact-sworn warlock with abilities that defy common wizardry. He “walks the crimson road,” and thus his soul is foresworn. He manages to avoid his ultimate destiny through abilities derived from his new pact with the stars.

  Malyanna (mal-YAN-na)

  A woman who presents herself as an eladrin noble of the Feywild. While true, Malyanna betrays the eladrin reputation of genteel civility, and a pledge she made to protect the world from the horrors that wait beyond Forever’s Edge.

  Neifion (NEH-fee-on)

  An enigmatic elder creature native to the Feywild to whom Japheth swore his pact. Usually referred to as the Lord of Bats. Of a class of creatures sometimes called ‘archfey.’ Neifion is an ally of Malyanna.

  Raidon Kane (RAY-dun KAYN)

  A Xiang temple-trained warrior who is competent in any fight, but particu
larly so when battling monsters not born of the natural world, thanks to his implements: the sentient sword Angul and the Cerulean Sign which is spellscarred onto his chest.

  Seren (SER-ren)

  A female wizard who relearned the knack of casting spells in the wake of the shattered Weave more quickly than many others. Seren is a mercenary wizard who seems primarily motivated by the bottom line.

  Taal (DAY-ul)

  The castellan of the Tower of Winter’s Peace and oathsworn servitor and guardian of the eladrin noble Malyanna. Taal is proficient in martial arts and bears a tiger tattoo on his arm that possesses partial sentience.

  Yeva (YEE-vah)

  A lost soul caught by the Eldest’s condensed memories. Freed by Anusha and saved from dissipation, Yeva befriends the dreamwalking woman and uses her mental powers to aid Anusha thereafter.

  OTHER CHARACTERS

  Ailyn (AYE-lyn)

  The adopted daughter of Raidon Kane. Died in the first hours of the Spellplague.

  Behroun Marhana (Bh-ROON mar-HAN-a)

  The lord of the Marhana merchant family with schemes on nobility, troubled by few qualms in his efforts to achieve such status. Behroun is the older half brother of Anusha Marhana. He is allied with Malyanna.

  Dayereth (DAY-r-eth)

  An eladrin war wizard of the Spire of the Moon, a Watchtower on Forever’s Edge.

  Erunyauvë (ERIN-ya-va)

  The Lady of Moon Keep, one of the Watchtowers on Forever’s Edge. Erunyauvë possesses a relic throne that allows her to glimpse the future, but the price for using the throne is steep.

  Gethshemeth (geth-SHEH-meth)

  A greater kraken that once abided in the misty depths of the Sea of Fallen Stars. Gethshemeth possessed the Dreamheart for a time and was changed by it, until the relic was taken from it. Now the kraken is drawn to the rousing city of Xxiphu, and serves as one of its guardians.

  Lucky (also known as Blackie)

  The ship dog aboard the Green Siren privateer vessel.

  Morgenthel (MOOR-gen-thel)

  A bounty hunter seeking Seren for her apparent betrayal of her previous allegiance.

  AUTHOR BIO

  Bruce R. Cordell has authored several novels and short stories, including Plague of Spells, City of Torment, and Key of Stars. Besides writing, Bruce is interested in martial arts, science of all kinds, and an eclectic brew of other activities. Befriend Bruce on Facebook at http://facebook.com/brucecordell.