by Lin Carter
So at length the hour of farewells came around.
“Take the airboat, for it is yours,” the wizard said. “And I shall keep the Star Sword here, for vast powers are still slumbering within it, and in the hands of the unwary, or the greedy, should it fall into such hands, it could work terrible things out in the lands of men. Here I will keep it safe, for I see within the misty future a time when once again the powers of the Sword will be needed. When that far-off hour comes—whether to you, or to your children, or to your distant descendants a thousand years from this hour—when that far off time comes, when the Sword is again needed to lift against the Forces of Darkness, you shall take it from my hand.”
They nodded, not truly understanding, and Thongor stirred restlessly, anxious to be gone.
“Fare you well, Prince of Karvus. Where will you go?” Sharajsha asked.
The Tsargolian bowed. “For me, who have no home, I shall follow the trail of Thongor, for I know that wherever he is, there will be fighting aplenty!”
They laughed, and Sharajsha turned next to salute the Princess of Patanga.
“Farewell to you, my Lady,” he said. “And what road shall you take?”
She smiled and shrugged lightly. “For that I have no home either, I too shall follow Thongor. For where my brave warrior is, there is my home as well.” And her smiling gaze met the warm, golden eyes of the barbarian.
Sharajsha turned then to the Valkarthan.
“And fare you well, Thongor. Where do you plan to journey?”
The Valkarthan grinned the reckless, fighting grin that they had seen when he laughed in the teeth of danger. He slid his broadsword from its sheath and kissed the blade, saluting Sumia.
“I? Why, Wizard, I shall return to Patanga, where a vile Druid soils the throne of my Princess. And that throne I shall win back for her. Aye, and a place beside her for myself—unless my right arm and my Northlander steel have both lost their strength.”
And with that they entered the Nemedis, Thongor lifting Sumia over the low rail and bounding to the deck with one stride. The wizard withdrew to the mouth of his cavern as the airboat floated up into the morning sunlight, circled once, and sped out over the dense jungles of Chush, bound for Patanga the City of Fire, and a host of new adventures.
APPENDIX
Time Chart of Lemurian History
1 to 1.000,000 B.C. (approx.): The destruction of Hyperborea. The Dragon Kings migrate to Lemuria.
Year 1 (circa 500,000 B.C.): The Gods give life to the first man, Phondath the Firstborn.
1 to 1000(approx): The rise of the Seven Cities of the East.
1000 to about 2000: The Thousand-Year War is fought and the Dragon Kings are whelmed at the Battle of Grimstrand Firth, wherein the Black Keep falls to the Star Sword and Thungarth, Son of Jaidor, is slain.
2000 to about 4000: The Nine Cities of the West are founded and they prosper.
About 4500: The Era of the Gray Enchanters.
6982: Thongor the Mighty, Son of Thumithar of the Black Hawk people, is born at Valkarth in the Northlands.
About 6999: The coming of Thongor into the Southlands as a wandering adventurer.
7007-08: Thongor and Sharajsha foil the plot of the Dragon Kings, as described in Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria.
7008: Thongor breaks the power of Thurdis, weds the Princess Sumia, and becomes Lord of the Three Cities, as described in Thongor and the Dragon City.
7008, tenth month: Prince Thar, the Son of Thongor, is born in Patanga.
7009: Events described in Thongor Against the Gods.
7014: Events described in Thongor in the City of Magicians.
7017: Events described in Thongor at the End of Time.