"Three hours," Merridian called out.
In three hours, the Eternal Wanderer would be in the gravity well of Cartania, the second planet in the Solaris sphere. Their long journey through the sphere hadn't been completely without incident, but then it hadn't been dangerous either. Several times strange ships would follow the dreadnought at a distance, like wolves examining prey, but none of them attacked. There had been no sign of the Imperial elves either. The only elven ship they encountered was an ichnuman scout ship from Olvenholt, and it barely even said hello.
Tempest was recovering well. She would be able to spelljam again before long. Djan fit in well with his hosts. Gaye's continual energetic chatter was almost as bad as Zebart, except that she usually made sense.
While the Eternal Wanderer experienced no battles en route to Cartania, there were several painful moments. Several members of the crew had spoken to Hall and Onestar about their distrust of Ville. Apparently his semi-vampirac look was more than most of them were ready to deal with. Tabatha became more and more vocal in her distrust. Eventually, she approached Hall and demanded a transfer from operations to security, because she simply refused to take orders from someone as xenophobic as Ville. Grudgingly, Hall approved the transfer.
Phantom found this entire situation very uncomfortable. During the flight from Gandorine, Phantom and Tabatha had frequently been seen on the bridge together. Everything appeared professional between them, but several members of the crew had their suspicions, giving rise to another round of jokes for the recreation room.
Never the less, Phantom was finding Tabatha's attitude toward Ville rather disturbing. In her own way, she was being just as narrow minded as Ville, and unlike Ville, the fact wasn't bothering her. He was becoming increasingly fond of Tabatha. At the same time he was certain that Ville was a good man, and that his attitudes toward other races were the result of traumatic events in his past. But, every time he tried to approach Ville, the other man declined to talk. Phantom was afraid that he would have to choose between Tabatha and Ville. This added another complication to the turmoil that he hit deep within his mind.
Ville, for his part, had become scarce on the bridge of the Wanderer. He claimed it was because he didn't want to disturb the magical instruments there, but those who knew him well didn't believe that. He was battling the most dangerous and cunning foe that any one man could ever face, himself, and he insisted on fighting the battle alone.
Another person who had become scarce on the bridge was Illeria. She wouldn't explain why she didn't want to do her shift on the bridge. She simply said that she now preferred to work in the captain's office, where she could work alone. It wasn't until Phantom conveyed the uncomfortable tale of what had happened between them that things made sense.
The fact that Cartania was approaching fast was elating to the crew, who desperately wanted to get off the ship and breath real air. Every one on the ship was a space traveler, no question, but some basic urges can never be denied forever. Even Onestar was looking forward to going ashore. Since witnessing the death of his home sphere, he had been feeling somewhat detached. He wanted to walk on real earth again, if only to remind himself that it could still be done.
Everyone on the ship was checking things over, taking inventories, and so forth. Once the ship was on the ground they would start making arrangements for re-stocking the supplies and equipment. After going so long without a break, the large ship looked tired. Everyone was looking forward to landing.
Everyone except Illeria.
Crystal Ravenheart found the dark skinned woman in the library, quietly reading a spell book. When the bard entered, the wizard barely acknowledged her. Crystal had once been a morale officer. It was her duty to help people with personal problems. It was time to perform that duty again.
"Illeria," she said quietly, "do you want to talk?"
"Not really," Illeria answered.
Crystal ignored the answer.
"Are you still upset about Phantom and Tabatha?" she asked. "It's been over a month."
Illeria gave the elf a sad smile and put down the book.
"No, there is something else," she said. "That didn't help, mind you."
Crystal leaned back, as Illeria pointed at the spell book.
"Without that," she said, "I'm empty. The only thing I seem to do right is wield magic." She sighed. "I was attracted to Phantom, and I was thinking that if... there was someone in my life I wouldn't feel so empty."
Crystal was a bit surprised. Illeria was always aloof, but she never struck anyone as being riddled with self-loathing.
"You can't..." Crystal started.
"You can't love another until you love yourself," Illeria said, imitating Crystal's elven accent, "I know that. And that's what's bothering me."
She touched the book again.
"This is all I have," she said, "and it's all I will ever have. The best thing I can do for myself is to become the best wizard I can be."
"Fine," Crystal said sarcastically. "Some day you will be known throughout the universe as one of the greatest wizards who ever lived. Someday you may be in league with Elminster, or even Monitor. But you will still hate yourself and resent your lonliness!"
"What do you suppose I do for that, oh wise one?" Illeria was annoyed. "Remember, you are the one who pinned for Onestar for about six months."
"I know, and it was killing me. I confronted him because I needed to resolve things. I wasn't going to destroy myself over him, at least not like that."
"No words of elven wisdom?"
"Just this: go talk to Merribor."
"So he can use his mind tricks to chase the spiders out of my head? What makes you think he can solve everything?"
"I don't know if he can," Crystal said as she stood up. "But he may be able to help you find a way."
The two women were silent for a moment.
"We will be landing soon," Crystal said. "You may be needed on the bridge." At that she quietly walked out. Illeria stared at the wall for a moment, then put out the lantern and left the library.
"Acquired," Merridian called out, as he lowered a scope. In the distance, a small, yellowish world appeared. The ship was flying right into the sun, so it was difficult to see much of anything. A few seconds later, a reddish world appeared beside the first.
A chart was laid out on the table on the bridge, outlining Cartania and it's four moons. Two of the moons were now visible through the star light. Small measuring instruments did an eerie dance on the chart as Normikon used them to mark their current location and trajectory. At the beholder's will, a ruler-like instrument rolled across the chart.
"Recommendations?" Merridian asked, again looking through the scope.
"Heading five-eighteen, fifty-three, mark zero-six," Normikon answered.
Merridian relayed the directions to the helm and the ship lurched slightly to the right. Another moon appeared when they did. The main planet was still being eclipsed by it's four moons.
Onestar stood on the muster deck looking through his binoculars. Crystal came up beside him and took his free hand.
"Did you talk to her?" Onestar asked, lowering the binoculars.
"Yes," Crystal answered, "but it will be a while before she comes around."
Belieth was standing a few feet away, and she was quivering with anticipation. Onestar and Crystal looked at her and wondered what she was feeling. Twelve years ago she had left this world, and now she was about to come full circle.
Onestar looked up in confusion when he felt the ship lurch slightly and then resume it's speed.
"Blaise," he called, "is something amiss with the helm?"
"Not that I know of," Blaise called back. "But I'll check and see..."
"Don't bother," Hall said as he walked onto the muster deck. "Damian's on the helm. Everything is fine."
"Why did you get off?" Onestar asked.
Hall put an arm around Belieth and smiled.
"I would rather see this with my own eyes," he answered.
As if on cue the Eternal Wanderer rounded one of the four moons. Cartania loomed before them majestically. The blue and white world looked somehow fragile to the onlookers above, but only for a moment. They could see a huge, stationary storm off the coast of the main continent. They could see a long archipellico of islands in the central sea. One island continent had a cross-shaped chain of mountains that appeared to divide it into four equal parts.
Hall and Belieth was smiling widely.
"Hall, Belieth," Onestar said quietly, "welcome home."
A few minutes later the Eternal Wanderer entered the atmosphere of the planet and began a long, slow descent into the northern sea. A small isthmus of land could be seen to the south as the craft lowered itself into the late morning sun. When the Eternal Wanderer finally came to a stop in a wide cove in Farbay, the land before them was covered with the colors of autumn. An ivy-colored castle stood alone on a large cliff, almost like a guard sent to welcome them.
"Maplegrove," Belieth whispered, looking at the shore. A few seconds later, she and Hall exchanged a strange look...
...and jumped from the muster deck into the cold water, cheering as they went. Those on the bridge exchanged sudden looks of surprise when they heard the two splash into the water.
"Come on in!" Hall called, "the water is great!" Belieth emerged behind him and pushed him under water with a laugh.
"Will you two quit..." Onestar started. He then noticed three more people jump into the water.
Phantom looked at Tabatha for a moment.
"Don't even think about it!" Tabatha hissed.
"Suit yourself," Phantom said as he started for the edge. He then turned back quickly, picked Tabatha up and jumped in with her. Tabatha sprang out of the water and onto one of the ships rams in a matter of seconds. Her fur coat was a total mess, and she was whimpering like a kitten.
"Huh," Kath scoffed, "foolish." As soon as he finished saying that, Slyssia came out of nowhere, like a maniac, and rammed into him, pushing him into the water.
Merridian did a dive from one of the higher decks, and emerged a few seconds later. He flew high into the air, then dived again, only to repeat the cycle. Normikon floated high above the water, then allowed himself to drop like a cannon ball.
"What the hell," Ville said as he dived in.
The area between the two rams looked like a mad house as the crew engaged in a water fight.
Crystal was laughing hysterically. Onestar just looked confused.
"We have important things to do!" he called out.
"Will you loosen up?" Belieth called, throwing water at him.
Crystal then took off her cloak.
"Crystal...?" Onestar started.
"When on Cartania..." she said as she jumped in and joined the brawl.
After several minutes, Onestar realized that he was the only member of the crew who either wasn't in the water, or lounging around on one of the rams getting their feet wet.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," he muttered as he took off his cape and jumped in.
Maplegrove...
The small village that Hall and Belieth called home was a welcome change for the crew of the Wanderer, who made themselves a comfortable camp just outside the village. A few of them stayed in one of the village's two inns, just to have a change of pace. Still others remained on the Wanderer, which rested quietly about a mile downriver from the town in a secluded, shady cove. At any rate, Cartania's autumn air was welcome to all of them.
The day after landing, Hall and Belieth walked into the village. At first, no one noticed them. None of the faces looked familiar. While the village looked the same as it had twelve years ago, apparently the people had changed. It was then that they noticed a human woman in brown and green clerical robes...
"Darlena!" Hall called.
The cleric turned around and quickly started running for them. She paused by a metalsmith shop to call someone, then met Hall and Belieth in front of the town well. The reunion was a very emotional one.
"Yuch!" a voice called. They turned around to see a scruffy dwarf approaching.
"Karl!" Hall said, "you little wart how have you been?"
"Just great!" the dwarf answered with a smile, and a heavy slap on Hall's back. "Nothing ever changes in this little place."
The four then went to a bench and started exchanging tales about the last six years, when they parted. Eventually the conversation turned to...
"...Bagath and Cherry told me you would be coming soon," Darlena said.
"Where are they now?" Belieth asked.
"In the castle tower," Darlena answered. "Cherry's been up there since Gordon got back with the last part of the key, about three weeks ago."
"Has she tried to use the key?" Hall asked.
"Not yet," Darlena answered. "She is still unsure about where it's to be used."
"She has it narrowed to three sites," Karl said.
"We may have some useful information in the repository," Belieth offered.
"Repository?" Darlena asked.
"A gift from Monitor," Hall said.
"The Magi?"
Hall just nodded. They were silent for a moment. Hall looked up at the old castle on the cliff.
"Is Gordon still living up there?" he asked quietly. Belieth felt the sadness in his voice.
"Yes," Darlena answered. "He's Town Protector now."
"That doesn't surprise me," Hall said with a slight smile. Belieth smiled and looked at the ground. "How has he been? How is Gwendalyn?"
Darlena and Karl exchanged sad looks.
"Gwendalyn is dead," Darlena answered. Hall groaned and buried his face in one hand. Belieth winced as tears started to fall.
"How," Hall whispered.
Darlena breathed hard.
"Two years ago, in childbirth."
"And the child?" Belieth asked.
Darlena shook her head 'no.'
"Hall," Karl said, "he still doesn't understand."
Hall cast a long, sad look at the castle above. In the distance, thunder could be heard.
That evening, the small village was covered with a thick, autumn rain. The two village inns were alive with people. Most of them were local, but many of them were from the Wanderer. Several of the locals exchanged startled looks when a scro entered with a lizard woman on his arm. Then there was the large, dark skinned man who didn't look quite right, and his silent companion who didn't speak, eat or drink... at least not when someone could see him.
Elsewhere, in the small castle above the town, several others were finishing off a quiet dinner. At the table sat Belieth, Darlena, Karl, Cherry, Bagath, Onestar, Crystal, Tabatha and Phantom. A creature that looked like a miniature beholder quietly entered the room.
"Would anyone like coffee or tea?" it asked.
Belieth and Darlena declined.
"Coffee for us," Bagath said, indicating himself and Cherry.
"Tea," Onestar said quietly.
"Thank you, Max," Cherry said as the creature floated out.
"Max the orbmax?" Crystal said with a smile.
The others nodded. Belieth looked over at a door that opened into a hallway.
"Do you think they will ever come out of there?" Darlena asked.
"Yes," Belieth said. Her face was very sad. "I wanted to go in there with him, but he insisted in going alone."
They continued to look down the hallway.
The western most turret of the castle was the court chamber. It was from there that the Town Protector conducted most of his work. The title was an elected one. The small castle was more like a mayor's house than a manor.
Hall-ee-mor Dargess entered the room and walked halfway to the large desk that was near the large window. A man was sitting in the chair, looking out the window at the storm outside. Slowly he turned around and stood up. He was a tall, imposing human. His hair was black with a few streaks of grey. He had a beard that looked the same. He pointed to two chairs that were before the fire.
Hall walked over to the chairs and sat down. Gordon Yarnof walked over and took the other. The two men looked at each other for several long minutes. Hall was waiting for Gordon to say something. Gordon's eyes revealed no emotion at all.
"I trust you had a safe trip from Beacon?" Gordon finally asked.
"Yes," Hall answered quietly.
"Well done, on finding Belieth," Gordon said after a long pause.
"I'm sorry about Gwen," Hall said sympathetically.
Gordon didn't say anything. Several moments passed in tense silence.
"Damn you, Gordon Yarnof," Hall said quietly. "Would she have wanted us to remain estranged like this?"
"She understood," Gordon said, his voice growing louder.
"Are you sure? You never understood."
"What was there to understand? You put your personal need over that of the group."
"That isn't fair, Gordon. How many times did we all go out on a limb to help just one member of the group? If we had all worked together to find her, you and I might not be in this situation now." Hall felt the first stirring of anger.
"Things had changed by then," Gordon said flatly. "What is the life of one half-elf when compared to the fate of an entire world?"
The question jabbed Hall to the heart.
"I suppose you have been battling Montrazar all this time?" Hall asked. "Relentlessly fighting him at every turn? If you have, you have done a terrible job of keeping him in check. His pawns are all over the place up there."
"That's enough Hall!" Gordon said as he stood up. "Get out!"
"NO!" Hall yelled back, standing to confront him. "This has been festering for years. We are going to settle this right here, and right now!"
Gordon and Hall stood face to face. Each looked ready to strangle the other.
"You," Gordon hissed, "put your physical need over that of the party, and in so doing put your own needs over those of Cartania!"
"Belieth is not just my..." Hall couldn't repeat what Gordon said. "Belieth is not some wench I picked up outside of a festhall. She is my wife! She is half of my very soul! Without her, I'm only half a man." Hall was flush with anger.
"How did it feel with Gwendalyn died?" Hall asked. It was difficult for him to form the words.
"I wanted to die," Gordon said flatly.
"That's what I felt every morning for five years!" Hall snapped. "Every morning, I would wake up and convince myself to keep living. Every morning I would talk myself out of giving up. Half of my soul was missing, and until I found it, life would never be complete for me."
Gordon started to protest, but Hall cut him off.
"This isn't about Belieth anyway, and you know it." Gordon scowled.
"This is about Pyrmalias," Hall stated, finally calming down. "You resented the fact that we intervened in your battle with the dragon. You still resent the fact that we helped you. This is about you and your god damned knight's honor. Tell me I'm right, Sir Gordon Yarnof. You have wanted to tell me for fourteen years!"
"You should never have interfered!!" Gordon shrieked, tears running from his face. "The people were depending on me to defeat Pyrmalias! If I couldn't defeat the dragon alone, like I said I would, what kind of leader would I be?"
"Prymalias was going to tear you to shreds," Hall said. "What kind of leader can you be when you are slaughtered on the forest floor?"
"A martyr!" Gordon answered. "My example would have inspired the people to resist the dragon and defeat it."
"By that time Maplegrove would have been a field of burned cinders! Do you realize how stupid you sound?"
Gordon prepared to punch Hall in the face, but stopped.
"GO ON!" Hall said. "Fight me! Fight me like I'm still a man!"
Gordon turned away.
"You and your worthless code of honor," Hall scoffed. "Even on his worst day Onestar was never as bad as you, and believe me he can be a real son-of-a-bitch."
"How else am I different from your samurai companion?" Gordon asked with contempt.
"He has realized that there are some tasks that he can't do alone," Hall said. "He has realized that there are more things involved in life than honor. He has admitted that he's just a man."
"He's admitted that he's a man?" Gordon asked. "Have you forgotten how much I loved Gwen?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"No, I haven't" Hall answered. "But you have."
The two men paused for several minutes. Barriers began to form between them. At one time Gordon and Hall had been close friends. They trusted each other completely. Apparently those days were gone. This wasn't the Gordon Yarnof that Hall once knew. This was an empty shell of a man.
"What has your code of knightly honor gotten you, Gordon?" Hall asked. "Have you no emotion left?"
"A knight doesn't show emotion," Gordon stated flatly.
"I know," Hall answered sadly. "I remember a time when you put justice over the knight's code. I was hoping you had gone back to doing that. The Gordon Yarnof I knew... is lost in the void." At that Hall walked out.
Gordon sat down and just looked at the fire.
A few minutes later, Hall emerged into the dining room where the others were. Belieth ran to him. She read his face in an instant. The others watched and knew immediately what had happened. Belieth led Hall over to a couch on the far wall.
"Tell me," she whispered.
Hall started to talk, but couldn't. He dropped his head into her lap and began to cry uncontrollably. Belieth laid her head on his back and did her best to comfort him.
For some reason, Onestar felt a sudden need to hold Crystal close. He reached out one arm and gently collected her to his chest.
