EPILOGUE - Dedication

Arutha raised his cup.

‘Gorath!’ he said.

The others in the command tent raised their cups, said ‘Gorath!’ and drank to his memory.

Pug had related the final hours of the struggle and how he and Owyn had fashioned the illusion to convince the moredhel that Murmandamus was at last dead. Over the meal he had explained about Gorath’s self-sacrifice, his nobility.

Arutha reflected a moment on what he had been told, then said, ‘I find it very strange to consider any Brother of the Dark Path noble, but there is no other word for his deed. Even when I sent him off with Owyn and James, I harboured lingering doubts. I could not rid myself of the notion it was but another convoluted plan of the Pantathians. I was wrong.’

‘You are supposed to be suspicious,’ said Martin. ‘It is part of your duty to your Kingdom.’

Arutha sipped his wine and nodded at his brother’s remark. ‘Perhaps, but I am certainly never going to regard the Brotherhood of the Dark Path quite the same again.’

Owyn said, ‘If I may, Your Highness?’

Arutha gave the young magician permission to speak.

‘I travelled with Gorath for a few weeks in his homeland, and it’s so very different than I could have imagined.’ He told of the human communities living side by side with the moredhel, and while the humans would be labelled renegades, it showed that it was possible for peace to exist between the races. ‘They have a fierce way, it seemed to me, yet it was a way that is not so alien that we can’t appreciate it. I met Delekhan’s and Gorath’s wives; Delekhan’s is a powerful leader in her own right, and she is beautiful and fierce herself, and strange. Yet there was only ambition to save her people and she helped us.’ Owyn sighed. ‘When I first met Gorath, he said we would never understand his people or their ways. Maybe he was right, but I can accept them.’

Arutha said, ‘Would that all of them were like him. Life in our Kingdom would be far calmer in the north.’ The Prince continued, ‘Those of us who have survived yet another attempt by dark forces to destroy us must again rededicate ourselves to protecting our nation. Otherwise those who have died will have paid a great price in vain. Gorath will be remembered, not as a traitor to his people, but as one of our nation’s heroes as well as one of his own. He started out serving only the moredhel. He died to save us all.’

Owyn said, ‘I just wish he could have lived the rest of his life in Elvandar.’

Martin said, ‘That is something for anyone to desire. It is a good place to end one’s days. But Aglaranna was right; he wasn’t fully returned, and it was his hatred for Delekhan that prevented him from being one with the eledhel.’

Arutha said to Pug, ‘I wish I could have seen that little drama you concocted to deceive the moredhel.’

‘That was Owyn’s doing as much as mine. I have never been an adept at illusion, but he had learned some of those skills at Stardock. He fashioned the images of Murmandamus - from my description of him, and he had seen Arutha and Delekhan personally - and the Oracle had revived enough to rise up with me on her neck and spout an impressive flame. We just hoped it would be effective enough.’

Martin said, ‘Certainly it was that. I was a dozen feet away when I heard two of Delekhan’s guards tell Moraeulf of his father’s death and the end of Murmandamus. They were believers. Even Narab likely believes the tale. Even if he doesn’t, it serves his purposes to let others believe. I think we are done with the moredhel seeking Sethanon again.’ Martin put aside his wine and said, ‘I must leave. I have a long journey back to Elvandar before me, and then on to Crydee. My elven friends and I will depart at first light tomorrow, so I am to bed.’

Arutha stood and embraced his brother. ‘We see you too rarely,’ he said.

‘Come to Crydee. You and Anita. Bring Borric, Erland and Eliena. Spend a month.’

‘Two weeks, perhaps, and not until after the baby’s here.’

‘Another baby!’ said Martin with a grin. ‘When were you getting around to telling me?’

Arutha smiled and said, ‘I expect there’s a message with the royal seal of Krondor waiting for you in Crydee, where you’d have already read it if you were acting the part of a proper duke and not running around in the woods like your elf friends.’

‘If I hadn’t been running around, those two - ‘ he pointed to James and Locklear, who had unceremoniously fallen asleep on cushions in the corner of Arutha’s pavilion’ - would never have made it to destroy that machine and these woods would be full of Delekhan’s warriors.’ He lowered his voice. ‘And I would not have been able to find Narab and help him get to Moraeulf.’ Turning to happier matters he asked, ‘Have you picked out names?’

Arutha nodded. ‘If a girl, we shall name her Alicia, after Anita’s mother. If a boy, Nicholas, after great-grandfather.’

Martin said, ‘I look forward to the news of the birth.’

Arutha hugged his brother again, and replied, ‘I know. Be well and give my love to Briana.’

Martin departed and Arutha looked at his sleeping squires. ‘I think this constitutes lese majeste. What do you think, Pug?’

‘I think the magic herbs your healer gave them wore off. I think your threatening the hangman’s noose wouldn’t waken them.’

‘I’m glad to hear that,’ said Arutha. ‘They are forgiven.’ Looking at Owyn, Arutha asked, ‘What shall we do with you?’

Owyn said, ‘Highness, I am overdue at home, and really must return to face my father. Not that I can imagine his wrath being any greater, but the longer I tarry the worse will be my punishment for disobeying him.’

Arutha rubbed his chin and said, ‘Well, then, perhaps a good horse and some gold for a better inn or two along the way. And I think I’ll send a personal note to your father proclaiming my personal indebtedness to the son of the Baron of Timons for his great service to the Crown. I will recommend that if your father can’t find a place for you in his service, he consider commending you to the King, so that you might serve the Crown in Rillanon. I’ll also send a note to my brother telling him of your service. If you really do wish to, I’m sure he’ll find service for a bright lad such as you.’

Owyn smiled. Whatever anger his father had felt at Owyn’s decision to disobey and run off to Stardock would evaporate before a personal letter of commendation from the Prince of Krondor. Not to mention a commendation to the King. His homecoming had just become a great deal more attractive. ‘I thank the Prince.’

Pug said, ‘We need to speak some more about things at Sethanon, Arutha, and about what we must do to ensure nothing like this happens again.’ He fought back a yawn. ‘But right now we need our sleep, too.’

The Prince inclined his head. ‘Then you are excused, my friend, and we’ll speak again in the morning. Good night.’

They bid Arutha good night and left the Prince’s pavilion. Pug walked with Owyn to the tent Arutha had set aside for their use. ‘What will you do after you return home?’ asked Pug.

Owyn said, ‘I’m not sure. I know that my life will never be the same. I’ve seen too much and . . . it changes you.’

Pug tapped Owyn’s head with his forefinger. ‘And you have too much up there to let it lie idle. Come back to Stardock. Make sure we see no more mad wizards like Makala.’

‘I don’t know,’ said Owyn. ‘I think I would like to know more about these powers of mine, but I also think my father will have much to say about my future.’

‘Such is the burden of nobility,’ said Pug. ‘But you have time to ponder those choices, and you certainly have a great deal more to think about than before.’

‘No doubt,’ said Owyn, as they entered their tent. ‘Truth to tell, one of the reasons I left Stardock was because of all the politics. Your two Keshian students, Korsh and Watoom, they’re gathering followers and I can see some very nasty business ahead if you don’t break up those factions.’

‘As do I, but I’m unsure as yet what to do about it,’ Pug admitted.

Pug sat upon his mat and Owyn started to close the flaps. For a moment Owyn paused and looked out at the calm woods around the camp. In the distance he could hear the soldiers of the Kingdom around their fires, and above the trees the stars shone brightly.

He wondered if somewhere out there Gorath was with the Mothers and the Fathers, or in the Blessed Isles.

Wherever you are, Owyn thought as he tied the tent flap closed, you will never be forgotten. Then he added, my friend.

He turned to his own mat and lay down. Despite the unanswered questions and the countless possibilities still before him, Owyn fell quickly asleep.

Pug looked at the young magician and remembered when he had been that age, wrestling with the great powers Owyn didn’t even suspect he now possessed, and wondered which choices Owyn would make.

But whatever those choices, Owyn would make them, and Pug lay down relieved to know that his home and family were again safe. He basked in the knowledge that Gamina was home and that he would soon join his family at Stardock. With that thought in his mind, Pug drifted off to sleep. And it was a good, long, restful sleep.