Dahli hadn’t seen any sign of the woman. He hoped she was dead, but in the absence of a body to prove it, he dared not release all the magic he held. From time to time he ventured to the other side of the world to check on the survivors, forced to levitate and “fly” there since there was no place between the worlds now, but they hadn’t seen their former leader either.
On the day of the unlinking he’d been safe underground with Zeke. For fifty-one days afterwards, they’d slept when they were tired and explored the caves when they weren’t. On the fifty-first day they’d stumbled upon another exit to the caves and crept out to find a world littered with dead machines. A little released magic had revived the closest, and Dahli had quickly smashed it.
“Hmm,” Zeke had said, looking out over the countless dark shapes. “I could fix them so they don’t wake up when you release magic.”
“It could take a lifetime,” Dahli had pointed out. “Maybe several.”
The young man had shrugged. “I have a lifetime to fill.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not what you wanted.”
Zeke had laughed. “I have you and a world full of machines to play with! It doesn’t get any better. At least for me it doesn’t. For you it’s going to get very boring.”
Dahli smiled at the memory as he levitated and propelled himself back towards the house they had built. Zeke was perceptive, but to truly understand what it meant to have lived more than three hundred cycles, you had to have lived them. Zeke could not appreciate why Dahli would never be bored around him, despite having served a man as desirable and elusive as the Raen.
Because Dahli had never felt affection for Valhan. His respect had been part fear, which was not respect at all. Zeke was always himself: clever, sometimes foolish, honest, forgiving. He made Dahli a better, happier person.
That, alone, could sustain him for many more lifetimes.
He smiled as he moved through clouds, above a glittering sea. If Rielle never found a way to re-link this world to the rest, he wouldn’t care. The past was far behind him. A better future lay ahead.
For the first time in his life, he was content.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First up, a big thank you to the team at Orbit, from the editors who knock my books into shape, to the designers and illustrators who make them look fabulous, to the publicity folk who come up with fun and effective ways to bring the books to the attention of readers, to the people who have, over the years, written lovely notes and inserted them in reprint copies to send my way. I appreciate all your hard work and creativity.
Next, a big hug for my agents, especially the wonderful Fran Bryson, who has stuck by me for all these years and the lovely agents I’ve worked with at Abner Stein, but not forgetting all the overseas agents who represent me around the world.
Thanks also to Stephanie Smith, Liz Kemp, Heidi Schwegler, Donna Hanson and Kerri Valkova for beta reading and editing, catching all those inevitable mistakes and inconsistencies and enthusing about the story.
Thanks also to Mum and Dad. Always.
And Paul, for support during the bad times and assistance celebrating the good.
Lastly, as always, a huge thank you to all the fans of my books. Your enthusiasm and patience have kept me going in the tough times. I have had a lot of fun writing my books and it is an extra, awesome bonus to know other people are enjoying reading them. And rereading them. Thanks for coming along the adventure with me. You’re the best travel companions ever!
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ALSO BY TRUDI CANAVAN
The Magician’s Apprentice
The Black Magician Trilogy
The Magicians’ Guild
The Novice
The High Lord
Age of the Five
Priestess of the White
Last of the Wilds
Voice of the Gods
The Traitor Spy Trilogy
The Ambassador’s Mission
The Rogue
The Traitor Queen
Millennium’s Rule
Thief’s Magic
Angel of Storms
Successor’s Promise
Maker’s Curse
Maker's Curse Page 51