by Julian May
“But Denby never lost hope that one day he would be able to undo the damage. He knew that in the aftermath of the Sempiternal Ice—if it ever came to pass—those sleeping geniuses would be able to lend us invaluable assistance in healing the land and sea. And so they will, guided by a new Archimage of the Firmament, an old Archimage of the Sea, and an Archimage of the Land who is presently weary unto death, but expects to feel much better tomorrow.”
“Yes!” cried Orogastus jubilantly, and he swept her into his arms.
The golden bird touched the top of the palace spire, becoming as solidly attached as ever. Anigel and Kadiya slid down from its back and found King Ledavardis, Emperor Gyorgibo, and Prince Tolivar, who had climbed out onto the pinnacle roof to await their return.
“Mother!” the boy cried. “You will not believe what has happened!”
“Yes, I will,” Anigel said, caressing his cheek fondly. “There have been wonders and there will be sore pain, but in the end all will be well.” She touched her abdomen and felt a gentle flutter. Her three babes would be born into a strange world indeed, where magic and science would be allied. Would the boys be princes—or would they be something else?
Well, that was in the hands of the Lords of the Air. Offering her arm to Ledavardis, she started on the long walk down.
Kadiya shot an amused glance at the two who were still aboard the bird. “I think we’ll leave them to their conjuring,” she said to the new Emperor. “I must find my aboriginal friends Jagun and Critch, who were left on a small boat in Brandoba harbor. Do you suppose you can lend me a fronial to ride?”
Gyorgibo bowed with a flourish of his tattered and dirty sleeves. “Lady of the Eyes, I’ll drive you myself in the imperial chariot—if anyone down in the stables recognizes me.”
“If they don’t,” Kadiya told him in a comradely fashion, “we’ll steal the damned thing.”
When they had gone, Orogastus helped Haramis to alight. She still held the Sceptre as they stood together, looking down on the city. “There will be so many hurt people to tend to.”
“We can summon sindona from the Place of Knowledge and the Moons,” Orogastus suggested. “They can come through the viaduct out at the villa. You can use the Sceptre to transport them here—”
“No, love,” Haramis said to him. “Let the sindona walk into Brandoba by themselves to do their good work. The Sceptre must be disassembled here and now and never used again.”
He bowed his head in chagrin. “Of course you are right. And you must take charge of the three talismans.”
She was taking the magical instrument to pieces, tucking her own amber back amongst the now-empty wings of the Circle. “I have a better idea.” She handed him the coronet. “You keep the Monster, Archimage of the Firmament.” A mischievous smile touched her lips. “For more reasons than one!”
“Thank you.”
“We will bond the Three-Lobed Burning Eye to Iriane. She is such an easy-going soul that the people—and the Unvanished Ones—might occasionally require reminding of her authority.”
He settled the coronet onto his head. “I’ll fetch the star-box. I hope the Blue Lady will forgive me for the freezing, and for the shameful way that my Guildsmen treated her small Mere Folk.”
“We will go together to the Hollow Isles, release Iriane, and tell her everything. I think she will want to come back here and supervise the sindona, as well as using her new talisman to assist in the healing. You and I will share that work—but first, we must go to the Moons.”
“To begin the awakening?”
She smiled at him. “Among other things.”
He took her hand. Side by side, they looked into the west. The Sky Trillium was setting, but she had no doubt that it would rise again the next day, and each succeeding day until its work was done.
About the Author
Julian May is the author or coauthor of eighteen adult science fiction and fantasy novels and over two hundred juvenile nonfiction books. In retirement, she remains an avid keyboard player, gardener, jewelry designer, and fly angler. May lives in the Pacific Northwestern United States.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1996 by Starykon Productions, Inc.
Cover design by Angela Goddard
ISBN: 978-1-4976-8474-4
This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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