Night fell on the Rock of Bral, and a slight cool breeze blew in from the nearby Royal Docks. Onestar, Hall, Crystal and Belieth had all left the party the Conrog alliance was holding, and were returning to the Wanderer. Crystal, in her elven evening gown, shivered in the cool wind. Onestar removed the cloak from his shoulders and wrapped it around the elven bard.
She looked up at him lovingly, hoping that his heart had finally melted and accepted his love for her. She closed her eyes and moved toward him when she felt him move away toward the docks. Hall and Belieth, holding hands, noticed Onestar begin walking away with a determined step. Hall stood over near Crystal as she shook her head.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I don't know," Crystal replied. "I thought he was going to kiss me, but then he took off. It looks like that's where Te-Ess'Arr's ship was docked," she said, pointing to one of the royal piers.
Onestar walked quickly toward a nearby floating spelljamming craft. The ship was made from a dark wood, in the shape of hammership, but with many modifications. A small man, flanked by two minotaur guards stood talking with an arcane and his entourage. The small human had a thin build. His hair a dull grey, it was pulled back revealing a receding hairline. He stood to only under the chest of the tall arcane. When they heard the samurai's approach, the minotaur's stepped forward to block Onestar's path.
"What are you doing here, you waste of human flesh?" the samurai asked. The Minotaur guards both took large, double headed axes from their waists holding them at the ready.
"My, my, my, what interesting people you find at these conventions." The man turned to face Onestar. His face showed the signs of age. Wrinkles, spots dotted his cold features. His eyes, however, glowed with a fire of hatred. Literally. They glowed a deep red when he first heard Onestar's words, then faded to just a slight glow. To others who were unfamiliar with such a man, it might strike fear in their hearts. Onestar, however, just wanted to rip out those eyes.
"Colicor, you bastard, what are you doing on the Rock?" Onestar asked.
"Onestar, I am shocked at you. Is that any way to greet an old comrade? I was merely here reaffirming my position with Te-Ess'Arr, and establishing a free trade route within Omnispace for his consortium."
"On whose authority?" the samurai asked, again wishing he had a weapon.
"My dear boy, I need no other authority than my own." Colicor paused, stepped between the guards, and stood right before the samurai. Hall and the others were running toward them.
"Lord Monitor has stepped down. In two weeks, I become the new Imperial Ars Magican of Omnispace."
Onestar just stood there, in shock. Hall was the first to arrive, quickly placing one arm on the samurai's shoulder. He heard the news also.
"What...what do you mean?" Onestar's eyes widened with shock. Te-Ess'Arr looked on with obvious joy. Colicor remained emotionless.
"Yes. Monitor has resigned, and by right of succession, I am now the law in Omnispace." Colicor turned, parted the guards, and walked toward his ship. "My boy, why don't you come back to Omni someday? I'll throw a party the day you land. ESCANAL!"
With that word, the two bodyguards turned and started behind Colicor. Onestar started to rush them, but was held back by Hall. Suddenly, a crossbow bolt struck the ground at Onestar's feet. Silhouetted by the starlight, they could all see several archers and fighters armed and ready to attack. Colicor reached the top of the plank, then turned to look back.
"Still cavorting with that Cartanian riff-raff, I see."
"Can't you do any better than that, Colicor?" Hall replied, "Or are you just losing your touch?"
"If you were worth the trouble, bard, I'd consider it." Colicor then disappeared beneath the deck. The samurai's muscles tensed even more.
"Let it go," Hall whispered into the samurai's ear. Onestar heard his friend, but paid no attention. He watched there for minutes, even after the ship launched and became just another star in the night sky. Te-Ess'Arr slipped away before anyone could notice.
Blaise, Hypathia, and some of the others gathered in the banquet hall began to make their ways to the docks, hearing all the excitement.
"What happened now?" Blaise asked, slightly sarcastic.
"I'll explain later," Hall answered. Crystal started toward the samurai, but he just shrugged her off and started into the night. She was going to follow, but Belieth stopped her.
"Let him go," Belieth said. "He'll be back."
Later that evening, Blaise walked his four friends back to the Eternal Wanderer. The earlier events that night weighed heavily on all their minds.
"I checked with the docks," Blaise said. "Arr's ship left right after Colicor's. Apparently he just wanted to remind everyone that he was still out there."
"He is theatrical," Onestar grumbled. "I'll grant him that."
"I'll see you around," Blaise said. "I'll be staying with some of the delegates in the guest wing of Andru's palace. Good night all!"
At that he took his leave and started back up the stairs for the palace. Onestar and Crystal boarded the Wanderer, while Hall and Belieth remained on the dock for a moment. Belieth was staring into space. Hall knew what was bothering her, but he wanted her to talk about it anyway.
"Belieth," he whispered, "talk to me, please?"
Suddenly she started to cry.
"How could the navy let him go?," she sobbed. "After what he did..."
Hall started to put his arms around her, but she pushed him away.
"And what about what he did to me? How can you touch me without thinking about that?"
"Because I love you," Hall said flatly. "Part of me longed for you for five years," he continued, his voice now a whisper. "I was able to bury it deep within myself, but I could never put it behind me. I refused to put it behind me. When I saw you in that alcove with that look on your face, I..."
He shuddered with the memory. Somehow he managed a slight smile.
"We can't undo the past, and what happened wasn't your fault," Hall said. "I needed you back. Life just wasn't the same without you. As for what happened, having you back is far more important to me. I can live with what's past."
"So can I," she said, wiping her face. "I just wanted to hear you say it... again."
"Let's take a walk," Hall offered, as he put his arm around her. The pair started back up the dock toward the palace, and eventually into the royal gardens.
