Ultima: Tapestries

"I'm a healer, remember. I am no true Mage."

"That matters not, old friend. The power is within thee, and it is power that we need, however it may choose to manifest. I am a Mage, as well thou knowest, and I will be the focus for this spell. We... I... owe him nothing less. My magicks would be unavailable still, were it not for he; he put an end to my madness."

"Oh, agreed, a hundred times over agreed! We... we... owe him as much as it is in our powers to give." She smiled. "After all, it was by joining him on his quest that we did meet, thou old and true friend."

With a wicked smirk, her friend responded, "Thou dost make a strong case for changing my mind!

"Tell me then, before I do lose either my composure or my patience, where, and when."

"We shall all gather in the circle of stones just duskward of my home. We gather for the time when both moons are new, although not the time immediately upcoming."

"That is good. There are none who could make it on time if that were the case!"

"Oh, indeed. There is time enough for everyone to get there, and then time to spare."

"Mages all?"

"Ah, no. All our old friends will be there!"

"I see thee glancing at the stars. Has the time come for thee to take thy leave?"

"Aye, thou speakest aright. I go now to gather the last of our companions."

"Have a safe trip, then, Mariah."

"I do hope to, Jaana. I will see thee in just over a month's time, when, fates willing, we will call the Avatar home!"

The sun dipped below the horizon and stained the clouds red. The ship Virtue cut through the waves like a knife, and left Serpent's Hold harbor behind it.

"We'll have to head east, almost to the Isle of the Avatar, and then head north, to avoid the pirates of the Den."

"I assume that Captain Selene doth know what he's doing. At least we have a good wind to begin our journey."

"Indeed."

Long moments passed as both men looked over the stern at the sunset.

"Believe it or not, Geoffrey, I have never ventured this way before."

"To Moonglow?"

"No, no; I have indeed been to Moonglow. During the quest to find the missing Lord British, for instance. No, I meant the Isle of the Avatar."

"Truly? I had thought thou hath visited there on that self-same quest?"

"Nay. We did seperate, and I did not accompany the Avatar to that place."

"I have been there, several times. But thou knowest that, dost thou not?"

"Aye, I do. Tell me, what was it like?"

Geoffrey laughed. "Which time, Sentri? The first time I went it was a stinking swamp, with creatures that spit poison at you each time you turned your back. Then one traveled deeper into the mountains, where crevisses appear at thy feet without warning, and cracks give off noxious fumes that do burn one's flesh. In the center of it all was the Great Stygian Abyss, where the Avatar destroyed the skull of evil Mondain, and where we finally found the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom.

"Years later it became a much more clement place, holding the Shrine of Codex until the Codex was cast into the void, in the aftermath of the whole False Prophet affair.

"And now, I'm told that a village hath sprung up there. I hath never been there, however."

All sunlight was now gone. The two watched the moonlight reflect off of the ship's wake, as behind them a voice called for the running lights to be lit.

Several minutes later, Sentri spoke again. "So. Why us?"

"I do not follow thee. What dost thou mean, 'why us'?"

"Well, thee I can almost understand. Thou wert his friend before he even became the Avatar. Later thou didst become the captain of our Lord British's royal guard. But me? I got drawn into this more as a friend of Dupre's than anything else. Plus... 'tis a magickal ritual to try to call him home. We are mere men-at-arms. Why were we called also?"

Geoffrey laughed. "I have seen thee fight, Sentri. Thou art no mere anything. But, to thine question. Firstly, do not forget that it is not just the Avatar we hope to call home, but his travelling companions as well, including thy dear friend Dupre."

Sentri smiled and broke in with, "True. Which is why I convinced out Captain Selene to allow me to include as cargo a cask of Jhelom's finest."

"Oh? I wish thou hadst not told me. If this voyage is long enough, I may work up a thirst... but, to continue. Also, doth thou think this endeaver is entirely safe? True, I am certain that all involved here have tried to keep it secret, but just in case, we will be there to guard our friends' backs while they are vulnerable, spellcasting. Remember though the Fellowship be broken, the Guardian may still have friends here.

"And finally, when they finally return home, they will be surrounded by all their truest friends.

"Think on that, Sentri. I, for one, am off for bed."

With that, Geoffrey walked off, to his cabin, and left Sentri contemplating the waves.

"A stowaway!?" Captain Gargan cried. "Bring the little water rat here!" His first mate nodded and quickly left the cabin. The captain considered, and then poured himself a small glass of something out of his silver flask, and sipped it slowly. He felt the warmth flow to his limbs. It had already been a stressful day, and now this...

"Captain?"

"Get in here, Ian."

The door opened and in walked the first mate, dragging with him a boy, perhaps twelve years of age, with short blonde hair and frightened eyes.

"All right, boy! What is the meaning of this? Just who out of Deceit dost thou think thou are?"

"Sir? My name is Spark, sir. I didn't mean to make any trouble. But I... I need to get to Moonglow. I can make myself useful, sir... I'll scrub floors or whatever, just please don't put me off..."

"Dammit boy, thou'st put me in a difficult position." He looked closer at the boy. "Wait. Boy! Spark! It hath been two days since we embarked. Hast thou eaten in all that time?"

"A few scraps, sir, that I brought on board with me, is all, sir."

"Harumph.Mr. Fenderson, go and fetch the boy a few more scraps, to eat."

Ian Fenderson nodded, and left the two alone.

"I remember thee, boy."

"Dost thou, sir?"

"Aye. I've been on the waters for quite a few years now. But I'll never forget the events of three years ago. No Britannian will. But specifically, I remember a certain murder in Trinsic, and I remember seeing the boy who was orphaned by it.

"And I remember who solved that murder. Thou didst travel with him for some time, didst thou not? And now thou dost need to travel to Moonglow. Well. Considering who my other passengers are, I can make some guesses that perhaps I shouldn't be able to about why."

Then he looked stern again. "So why didn't thou not offer to work your way across the sea before we left land?"

"I found out about thy ship too late. I did barely make it aboard as it was."

"Harumph again. And I might have said 'no,' aye?"

"No! No..."

"Well as of now, consider yourself a dockhand on my ship, boy. My first mate will be back at any moment with food. I will inform him. Oh, and try not to be too surprised when thou dost meet, or meet again if rumor be true, our most important passenger."

"And who would that be? Sir."

Captain Gargan told him.

Spark's eyes widened with awe.

Singly, and in small groups, they drifted into the port at Moonglow, save one who rode down from the Lycaem. Finally, by the dark of the moons, they were all together, and they assembled at the circle of stones, just across the bridge.

("That's funny," remarked Geoffrey to Mariah as they walked over.

"Hmm?" murmered Mariah.

"It is drizzling out. I thought these big magic ceremonies always took place either under clear skies or torrential downpours. Says so in the books."

Mariah chuckled, then returned, "Thou canst read?"

Geoffrey gave her a sour look.)

In the darkness, Mariah spoke, "All the Mages, true and otherwise, who will be assisting or lending thy power to this rite, to the center of the circle."

Jaana, dressed from head to foot in her brown healer's robe, nodded, and stepped inside the circle of stones. She was followed, in turn, by her true friend Julia; then by the wizard Rudyam of Cove. There was a pause, then Nystul, court magician to Britain, entered the circle. Mariah looked inquiringly at the final person she had hoped to include in the inner circle.

"I am sorry," apologized the deep voice of Lord British, "but I'm afraid that I cannot. I yield to none in my admiration for the Avatar, and I owe to him even more than anyone else. But I also owe it to my people, and I owe it to my daughter, to not get entangled such perilous workings. I will help if it looks that it would tip the balance. I will fight if we are beset from without or if something comes through. I am sorry, but I cannot help more."

"My Lord?" asked Spark shyly, "Then why did thee come at all?"

British looked at Spark fondly but said seriously, "Because I feel the need to be here. And also because, these are my friends, too, that we seek to bring home."

Nystul, Jaana, Julia, and Rudyam joined hands, leaving a space for Mariah.

"Now, others, to their places. Geoffrey, my Lord British, and Katrina- an it please thee, stand just within the stone circle. Thy job is to protect against any foul things that may come through.

"Sentri, Tseramed, Galtraxen, and Spark, form a triangle outside the circle. Spark and Glatraxen, neither of thee are as combat tested as the rest, so do keep an eye on each other and stand together."

"To be honored to serve in any way," smiled Galtraxen.

"Aye aye, miss!" enthused Spark.

"And Amber?"

"Yes, Mariah?"

"Stand against a stone of the circle, and stay out of the way."

"I wil be guided by thy wisdom," Amber smiled, and moved to the side.

"To be not scared?" the gargoyle asked Spark as they took their positions.

"Me? Nah. One of my best friends when I was growing up was a gargoyle!"

Galtraxen laughed aloud. "To be thankful that it to have been a long time since I to have provoked that responce! No, to mean of the magic, and the danger."

Spark smiled bravely. "When I was younger I traveled with the Avatar himself!" He chuckled. "Made Iolo and Dupre feel old. But this doesn't scare me." Galtraxen saw Spark's hand tighten on his sling, however.

Mariah stepped finally into the circle and joined hands, Jaana to her right, Nystul to her left. "I believe that, if the gate openes, it will open in the vicinity of the highest concentration of our friends. That way they can more quickly find the rest, and the gate will not need to be held open as long.

"Are thee all ready?"

"Aye!"

"Indeed."

"Very well then. Let us begin."

There were lengthening minutes of silence then, whie Mariah did summon up the energy from within herself and her companions.

The sky began to drizzle with slightly greater intensity, but still merely drizzled.

Mariah began her invokation: "We gather here, now, at this time when the moons do not guard the way between worlds. We gather now, here, at this place where the veil is thinner and a gate once stood. We are gathered, here and now, to open the way, and open the gates, and to call our friends home.

"In Vas Por!"

The circle released hands, and Jaana tossed into the center a handful of Sulfuric Ash, while Julia on the other side did the same with a small amount of Blood Moss. Mariah watched with approval, then brought a bit of the root of mandrake to her mouth, and bit into it.

She felt the power in her increase tenfold. She could see, in her inner vision, the place in the fold of reality that she was seeking to tear, briefly, to call her friends home.

Nystul spoke, "With this we seek to build a web to bridge the gap between worlds, to open the way and the gates." And he opened his hand and flung a portion of spider's silk into the center.

Mariah could see, now, a glow in the air before her. Faint, yes, and only visible to her mandrake enhanced senses- but she was determined to make it manifest.

"In Rel Vas Ort Por!"

"Rudyam, the seed!"

Rudyam nodded, and, with a slow, underhand motion, tossed a small piece of blackrock into the center, a piece that once, not too long ago, had been known as the Orb of Moons. "To give the gate form," he said, "and to contain it, that it not swallow this land whole."

Mariah crushed a black pearl in her hand, and sprinkled the dust over the blackrock.

"Kal Ylem Rel Por!"

A red sliver of light appeared on the ground, and began to spread upwards and grow wider.

"By..." Spark checked himself with a glance at Lord British. "By the Virtues!" he said instead. "It worked!"

"No, not yet," replied British, "there is nothing on the other side."

The gate swelled to its full size, blazing and lighting the clearing red. "Open, open," Mariah intoned.

"This will not happen, yet,"a voice called from above, soft but with infinite authority. They all looked up and saw the incandescant figure of the Time Lord, standing in the air above the gate. He was cloaked in a glowing blue robe, its hood hiding his face. In one hand he held close to him an hourglass, and one could see that it was chained to the Time Lord by a manacle on his wrist.

In the blue light of the Time Lord, the glowing red of the portal became sickly and wan.

"It is my responsibility to safeguard the sanctity of this reality. Tell me, then, why I should allow this gate to open."

Mariah looked taken aback, but Lord British called out, "Time Lord! Dost thou know me?"

"Aye, British, I know thee. And I do know that I did grant unto thee the authority to open such a gate. But there are conditions, and laws. Thy gates serve only to call the Stranger to our land from Earth."

"The purpose of this gate, Time Lord, is to call him here from the Serpent Isle, along with his Britannian companions."

"British, Lord of Britannia thou art, but thou hast no authority over me. Thou canst not order me to open this gate, and it pleaseth me that thou dost seem to know this."

"I do. I seek but to explain, and to plead the rightness of this cause."

"Art thou aware that the Guardian doth still dwell just outside our world, and that he continues to seek his way in?"

Lord British looked troubled.

"This gate could possibly be turned to this design. I canst not allow that to happen."

"Lord. We seek to recall the Avatar, who once already has thwarted the Guardian's plans."

"I understand this."

"Canst thou not guard this gate, and prevent this thing you warn of from happening?"

The Time Lord thought for a moment.

"I can.

"Yes, I will do this thing. I do not stand in the way of this gate."

He started to fade in the sky. As he faded they heard his voice one last time: "I, too, owe much to the Avatar."

When he was finally gone, the light from the gate burst into fullest splendor once again. It stood, a solid red, giving off a fierce glow; and then it began to deepen, and shimmer, and colors rippled across its surface.

And then, a sibilant voice eminated from the gate. "I am the Great Earth Serpent, who wards the Serpent Isle. I have communed with your Time Lord. This gate may open, for a short time. One, and no more than one of thee, may enter, to gather thy friends." Then the voice was gone.

They started looking around the clearing at one another, all except the mages in the center, who remained focused on the gate.

Lord British then broke the silence. "Geoffrey. It falls to thee. Art thou willing?"

"Yes, my lord. Wish me luck, all." And with that, Geoffrey took a deep breath, and with measured step strode forward through the gate.

Several minutes passed in silence. Then, all of a sudden, Rudyam collapsed. The other four Mages winced but then stood firm. "He gave as much as he could give," declared Mariah, "and it drained him. Do not worry - we can continue to hold open this gate."

The rain remained a steady drizzle, but then there was a flash of lightning, followed immediately by an immense crash of thunder. These were followed by another, and then a third, in rapid succession. "This is no natural storm," called out Lord British. "Time grows short!"

"What is it?" shouted Sentri over a boom of thunder.

"I believe it to be the Guardian making an attack on the Time Lord. That it is manifesting here makes me wonder if perhaps the Time Lord did underestimate his opponent."

Sentri shuddered, but then quickly breathed a sigh of relief as Geoffrey stepped back through. "They're coming!" He was followed a few seconds later by Gwenno, who winced at the weather change and at a sudden peal of thunder. She opened her mouth but then seemed to think better of it, and closed it without speaking.

A minute passed, and then Iolo and Shamino ran through the gate. Iolo looked about him at the lightning and exchanged glances with Shamino, then cried, "Close it! Close it!"

"But the Avatar!" cried Nystul. "What of..."

"We're it!" boomed Shamino. His mouth moved but thunder drowned him out for his next few words, "...explain later! We promised, close it!"

Mariah nodded, weary, then closed her eyes and concentrated. Then her eyes opened and widened. "I cannot!"

Hideous laughter boomed all around them.

      "Time Lord!" a voice that could only be the Guardian's echoed, "I defeated you once before, do you not recall? It was folly to believe you could stand against me now!"

The portal darkened and then, the color rippling outward from the center, turned black. All who looked into it could see through it, and what they saw on the other side struck fear into their hearts. They saw the Time Lord, standing, between the Gate and the Guardian. The means of the conflict was obscure, and all watched them with dread.

Then another shape took form within the blackness, and the Great Earth Serpent said, "Yesss, Guardian, the Time Lord will stand against thee, for he does not stand alone!"

No one could articulate how they knew, but they saw that the battle had become a near stalemate. But still, it didn't end.

"What is happening?" Julia shouted.

Iolo grimly responded, "Only the Great Earth Serpent has joined with the Time Lord. I fear that Chaos and Order are thinking that, should it fall, they would be free of the Balance that the Avatar restored." But soon after he finished these words, another form and voice entered the frey, a voice that was maddeningly familiar to the observers.

"Guardian!" Chaos/Dupre called out, "I too stand against thee, and will for all time!"

"What? How?" sputtered Geoffrey. Sentri looked on, dumbstruck. Shamino looked at them sadly and said only, "Later."

"Order!" Chaos said, "will you not join us?"

"Order!" the Guardian echoed mockingly. "Yes, join them, and stay imprisoned in Balance forever! Look on me, and see that I am the alternative to Balance!"

"Oh, shit," Shamino cursed under his breath. He then spoke aloud, "Balance is much more than the sum of its parts. If Order joins them, the Guardian will be overwhelmed. If not, though..."

The Order Serpent's form appeared in the blackness. "Guardian," it said, "I know thee. And even Balance is preferable to thee!" It slid over to the other Serpents and twined with them. The three called out in a single choral voice, "Guardian! We are the Balance Serpent, and we do stand athwart thee!"

"Begone, Guardian!" the Time Lord's voice came again, once more strong. "This is not thine gate!"

And then, with a wail, the Guardian vanished. The gate crumbled, and it was over.

The storm ceased, and only a light rain remained.

There was silence for several beats and then everyone began talking at once.

"Where is the Avatar?"

"What in Dastard just happened?"

"What was going on with Dupre?"

Lord British stared around him, then called out, "Silence!"

Then he turned to the newcomers and said, "Iolo, Gwenno, Shamino: welcome home."

"Thank thee, my lord," said Shamino. He then looked around the circle and said, as if in disbelief, "Amber?"

"Oh, Shamino," Amber sobbed as she ran into his arms. "Oh, I missed thee so."

Shamino gave a brief, striken look to Iolo, then said, "Aye. I missed thee too."

"See, Mariah?" Geoffrey said then. "I told thee that there are always storms!"

Mariah smiled briefly, then sat wearily against a stone. Julia, Jaana, and Nystul followed her example gratefully.

"Well," Iolo started. "I had hoped to tell our tale in a tavern somewhere, but as it seems we are not going anywhere for some time, let me sooth thine curiosities.

"It galls me to do so, but let me start at the end. Dupre had given his life, nobly, to contain the Chaos Serpent, and in doing so, joined with it. It was both of them, together, that confronted the Guardian just now. The Avatar destroyed the Great Earth Serpent's prison, and freed it, and as he did so there was a flash of light, and he vanished. At first I thought he had entered the Wall of Lights, and found a way home. We were prepared to follow, but then the Wall closed, and we were left alone.

"We, ever so slowly, made our way across the Serpent Isle again, to Fawn, the nearest town of any size to where the final conflict took place. It was there that you found us."

"Well," Mariah said, "even here in Britannia we could feel the Balance go aright. So we gave thee all some time, and when none of thee returned, I proposed this plan to call thee home. I had assumed that there were no ways in that direction between worlds, and so thou wert trapped."

"Well, thou art close. There is one way, but only the Avatar had the means to open it, as in the end he had become the Balance Heirophant, who could open the Wall of Lights. But, as I said, he vanished.

"But let me now start at the beginning, to put what I have said in some context.

"It began when Dupre and Lord British discovered that Batlin had followed my Gwenno to the Serpent Isle. And so there, well outfitted by our lord here, went we, through the Serpent Pillars..."

Iolo then told, embellishing only slightly, the story of their travels to the Serpent Isle. He told them of the fate of the lands of Danger and Despair from the Sosaria that Mondain had known. He told them of Dupre's imprisonment and trial for offering a toast to Lord British, and of the Avatar's unjust confinement in the Mountains of Freedom. Lord British frowned sourly but did not comment when he heard that the daemon Arcadian was free of the Blackrock Sword. Iolo told of the monks, and of their first encounter with the Wall of Lights, and of Batlin's failure and death. Then, his voice filled with revulsion and shame, he told of the Banes.

Shamino's face appeared somewhat sick as well as Iolo told of the destruction ravaged throughout the Serpent Isle. This too was put an end to by the Avatar, who imprisoned the Banes' essences in his Blackrock sword.

Iolo cheered some as he told of Gwenno's rescue, and then of the successful quest to restore her mind. He told of the restoration of the Chaos Serpent, who had lost the Imbalance wars long before, and how Dupre's sacrifice prevented Order and Chaos from trying to destroy each other before Balance could be restored.

"With his last words, Dupre hoped to be remembered for his sacrifice rather than his drunkenness; for being a virtuous companion rather than an ale-soaked tavern hopper.

"Moments later, all that remained were ashes."

Tears rolled down Sentri's face as he listened, and they all mourned their friend.

"Evidently," Shamino added, "he did not truly die, for that was undeniably Dupre who stood against the Guardian here."

Iolo went on and told of their journey to recover the Silver Seed, and of Shamino's earthshaking discovery of his old kingdom's presense. He told of Shamino's painful reunion with his dead wife.

If people had been a little less tired, and a little less absorbed in the story, somebody might have noticed the strangled noise that came from Amber's throat or the shocked look on her face at the mention of Shamino's wife. She swallowed, hard, then carefully removed all signs of her surprise from her face.

"Finally, in the end," continued Iolo, "we reached the Wall of Lights, where the Balance was restored and, as I said, the Avatar vanished. We were left alone.

"We remained there for a day, in case he came back, but then our food supplies began to dwindle and began a trek south. Along the way we three had a dream, wherein the seeress Xantha spoke to us.

"'Congratulations, and thank thee, Britannians. The balance is aright. For this we owe thee all. All in a vision I did see many of the details of thy final adventure, and I commune with thee now to give thee some answers to some of thy questions. Thy friend Dupre is at one with the Serpent of Chaos, and is content.

'But of the Avatar, here news turns somewhat darker. In a vision I did see him, resplendant in the regalia of the Balance Heirophant, floating in the void. There, he was surrounded by infinite possibilities. It was even within his power to return to Earth, his true home. But before any of the possibilities could become actual, he was confronted in the void by the being that calls itself the Guardian. The Guardian railed at him, then taunted him, and finally stole him from the void. Where he went next I do not know- my vision could not follow. I sorrow that I did have to bear these tidings to thee, but thou didst need to know.'

"Soon after that we made our way to Fawn, a journey of several weeks. We had been there some short time before the day came the Shamino spilled a full tankard of beer in his surprise at seeing Geoffrey appear.

"Shamino and I ran to gather our possessions, and we sent Gwenno through immediately. We started to throw things in our bags, but when he put his hands on something of Serpent Isle, the jawbone perhaps, or a blackrock serpent, the Great Earth Serpent projected its image into the room. It told us that it had allowed the gate to open, and it thanked us once again. We were told that the ophidian artifacts must remain in Serpent Isle, and were ordered to promise that we would see the gate closed once we were through.

"So, here we are. When first I stepped through I saw the lightning and was unpleasantly and frighteningly reminded of the imbalance storms. It seems we did have reason to fear, though it also seems that things have so far worked out well.

"And that is our tale."

The rain stopped as everyone sat in silence, assimilating the tale. Coming to terms with the victory, and with the loss.

"He's sleeping like a baby. He'll be all right when he wakes," said Jaana, who had moved to check on Rudyam.

"So. Now what?" Julia asked.

"We get off the wet ground and go to town?" responded Katrina.

"Sounds good to me," said Geoffrey.

"And for longer term plans, we travel back to Britain for a celebratory feast," added Lord British.

"My Lord?" started Tseramud, which surprised many as they realized he hadn't spoken all evening. "Art thou sure that is a good idea? I mean, if this doth go public... 'tis likely that we don't it well known that the Guardian hath captured the Avatar. If anyone who knows about the trip they took and sees Shamino, or Iolo, or Gwenno, and not the Avatar..."

"And then, what?" demanded Shamino. "Dost thou want us to go into hiding or something?"

"I didst not say I wanted anything from this. I am just trying to think ahead."

"Remember," pointed out Lord British, "the world doth know that he goes home to Earth when he has saved Britannia."

There was shocked silence for a moment.

"Thou'rt not suggesting that we lie, art thou?" asked Mariah.

"No! Thou needst not lie. But do not volunteer information, either."

"But... the virtues!"

"I am aware of the virtues. Sometimes, one must give way to another. To tell the world would cause panic, and fear, in my subjects. Compassion doth cause me to hold this back.

"But let us not dwell on the negative, not now. Let us hope he will make it out. Let us be thankful for our friends that have been returned to us. Let us get off the wet ground and go to Moonglow."

"Aye, agreed," said Rudyam. Heads swivled in his direction and saw him, lying on his side, propped up on one elbow, a little pale, but whole. Nystul and Katrina helped him to his feet, and all began to make their way back to Moonglow.

Time passed, boats were chartered to take the entire crew back to Britain, and a few people decided to go back to the circle of stones, in daylight.

"Why?"

"Because it all doesn't seem real. I mean, I can pinch Shamino and see that he's really here..."

"Ouch!"

"...but I just want to go back and see it.," Katrina explained.

"Thou go and do that. I'll be tanning on shipboard." Rudyam turned and walked to the docks.

Katrina watched him go. "I used to think he was a stuffy bastard, thou knowest," she asided to Shamino.

"And now, thou dost not any longer?"

"No," she admitted, "he still is. Just now he's stuffy and going to be tan."

"Thought he was too stuffy to lie in the sun?"

"Something like that. Now I know better."

Shamino thought for a second.

"Hast thou been making any sense during the last few minutes?" he asked.

"Probably not," she grinned.

They turned in unison at the sound of footfalls breaking twigs. Nystul smiled briefly at them. He was followed by Julia, who smiled more warmly.

"We'd like to head there with thee," Julia offered.

"Sounds good," responded Katrina. And without another word, they headed into the woods.

From behind them came a cry, "Wait for me!" as Spark ran to catch up.

Over the bridge and to the circle of stones they walked. At the outside of the great circle they paused, and took in the entire view. The sun shone down on them strongly, and the wind was mild.

"Hard to believe, isn't it?" asked Julia.

"Hmm?" asked Katrina.

"That anything as monumental as conflict between the Guardian and the Time Lord was caused here. Now it's so... prosaic, and peaceful."

They all slowly began moving inside the circle, walking around it, satisfying their curiosities.

"The reagents are gone," commented Julia, pointing to the center. "Consumed in the spell, I assume. They usually are, I suppose."

Spark ran to the center and kneeled down. "I wonder if the Moonstone is still here."

"The Orb of Moons, you mean? I don't see it."

"No, the Moonstone. Buried under each gate, legend says they were."

"Yes, they were," put in Shamino. "And that's a very good question, actually. But unless thou hast a shovel, thou willn't be finding the answer this day."

Spark nodded, stood, and dusted himself off.

"Are we ready to head back?" Katrina asked. Everyone nodded agreement.

Just as he was leaving the circle, Nystul saw something catch the light strangely by his feet. He bent down to pick it up, and found that it was a small shard of the Orb of Moons. It must have shattered when the gate closed, he mused to himself, as he put the shard in a pouch at his belt as souvenir.

The sail home was marked by fair winds and good weather, and the passengers found themselves sitting on deck, watching the bejeweled heavens. The companions, so long seperated, spent the time catching up with one another. They told stories and related adventures, embellishing only when necessary. The mood was light and gay throughout until finally, as the rocky hills near Cove slid by off of starboard, Lord British called them all together.

They met in the largest cabin on shipboard. There weren't enough chairs but they were content to lean against the wall or, in some cases, sit on the floor. Sentri, having thrown his cask of ale overboard upon deciding to spend a month sober in memory of Dupre, sat on the floor with a tankard of water which he sipped from idly.

British cleared his throat and the various muffled conversations died. "When I return to my castle," he stated, "I will be calling a council. The Guardian is coming, and we must prepare. But that will be a council of speakers of words. This is my council of doers of deeds." Lord British looked around the cabin, and Julia followed his eyes. All but four of us, she mused, have travelled with the Avatar. Rudyam and Nystul are high caliber mages. Galtraxen, is was rumored, is known among the Gargoyles as a noble spirit with great potential.

Why was Amber here?

Julia's attention refocused on British as he continued, "This may be one of the most difficult tasks I have ever given thee, my friends. Thou knowest my council. Most of them will talk, some of them may even decide something. But decrees do not an army make, and we need an army- and mere words do not leaders make, and we dearly need leaders. Were the Avatar here, one word from him and the peoples of Britannia would rise up and do his bidding. But whether or not he were here thou too wouldst be mine leaders. I put in thy hands my cities. Before I do this I must ask thee- art thou willing? At other times and with other people I might just command, but conscripts will not win this war. But together, if we fight with one heart, we will drive the Guardian back to the pit whence he spawned.

"I have already thy oaths of loyalty. But I choose not to command and instead will ask- wilt thou by my agents in this?"

"Aye," said Shamino and Iolo as one.

"Aye," replied Sentri. Then Geoffrey, and Tseramud; Katrina and Julia; all of the Avatar's companions down to little Spark.

"Of course," said Nystul, and "Yes," Rudyam.

"To have my oath," Galtraxen said with a smile.

And Lord British turned and looked at the one person in the room who was still silent. Amber looked confused, then opened her mouth. "Yes," she said softly, then looked surprised with herself, and him.

"So be it," said British. "I will give each of thee individual assignments, but allow me to describe my overall plan. Most of thee will be sent to a city, there to coordinate its defense. Thy biggest challenge is to do this quietly. Those among thee who go to take charge of a city must choose a handful of who can be trusted and have on their shoulders a level head. We must avoid large scale panic. Most of thee can get away with many things that most could not, for all of thee are well beloved. If it comes to war, we know that it will be the most bloody thing since the ages of darkness. But time is likely not on our side and we do not have the luxury to deal with riots and protests. So rather than try to prepare the populous, with uncertain results, let us be sure there will be capable leadership. It seems harsh and perhaps it is... but let us do nothing that lowers our chances against the Guardian. The peril is far too great.

"This is not, of course, to say that I wish the Guardian's armies to take the peoples of Britannia wholly off guard. But there is an ideal timing."

British took a deep breath. "Iolo and Gwenno, thou art in charge of Britain's defenses. It is Britannia's largest city, so I assign two of thee to it- and indeed, I doubt thou dost wish to be seperated right now.

"And, when watching out for Britain, include Paws in thy plans. Britain hath not quite yet absorbed that small village.

"Sentri, I send thee to Trinsic. Trinsic is one of the most defensible cities already, with its seemingly chaotic streetplan and high outer walls. I suggest that thou dost start with some of the members of Trinsic's Guild of Paladins. And also, much as I hate to suggest it, when the time comes Dupre's memory may be able to serve us well."

  The Lord of Britannia looked at the man who was once his captain of the guard. "Geoffrey, Jhelom is thine. It is nearly as easily defended as Trinsic, largely of course due to its inaccessibility. Most of its populous is of course already honed to a fine edge. We may in fact need to export some of that fighting spirit.

"Katrina, go home to New Magincia. It is small, and still building, and inaccessible, and therefore unlikely to be a target, but let us not take chances."

"Aye, Lord," Katrina responded.

"Next, Mariah."

"Let me guess: Moonglow."

"Indeed. I wish all of thee to be in places thou art familiar with and known to. And be careful, and all of thee mages take heed, to watch for attacks on the ether itself. We must not allow ourselves to be crippled in that way again."

Mariah, Nystul, and Jaana nodded. Everyone looked thoughful and solemn.

"Minoc goes to Julia for protection. Julia, thou hast an additional duty- of all the cities of Britannia it is most important that Minoc go to a wartime economy. We will need weapons and armour and for that we will need metals.

"And also, wood. Jaana, go thou home to Yew. Gather also the lumberjacks, the bowyers, and the carpenters. Though see that, as much as possible, the treaty with the Emps be not violated.

"Thou'lt of course have to watch out, Yew being so spread out abd thereby hard to defend. Minoc, on the other hand, is in a fairly good position. It could perhaps use a city wall on the south face of town.

"Nystul."

"Yes, leige?"

"I'd like thee to travel to Skara Brae. Look in on the restoration of the town. It pains me to say it but Skara Brae we may have to evacuate.

"Rudyam, I also send thee home, to Cove. To march an army overland to Cove would be almost impossible unless Britain were beseiged, but I take no chance. Continue, also, thine researches into the nature of Blackrock."

"My Lord," interrupted Geoffrey, "what of the castles of the principles?"

"I had not forgotten them, my friend. Empath Abbey and the Lycaem are now almost parts of their neighboring town. Jaana and Mariah, please include them in your plans. As for the Hold- Geoffrey, thine son is there, is he not?"

Geoffrey nodded.

"On thy way to Jhelom, take word unto him. I give him the Hold.

"Each of thee, by the by, will be given a writ with my deal and signature. Most of thee I do not expect to need it, and in fact please use it sparingly. Geoffrey, thine son may have need of it however."

"Indeed," Geoffrey agreed.

"I am confident, though," British asserted, "that thy son will do fine."

"Galtraxen. It should come as no surprise to thee that I wish thee to return to Terfin. However, I wish also to send Spark with thee. He has been there before. Spark, thy trouble will be getting them to take thee as seriously as this deserves. But thou has grown well and I have faith in thee.

"Amber. I'm sure thou'rt wondering what thou canst contribute to these efforts. I wish thee to return to thy stage in Britain. Dost thou remember the Fellowship play? Make a satire of it. Lampoon the Fellowship mercilessly. I wish them to be such an object of ridicule that none will ever again consider to join. Do not lessen the Guardian too extremely- I wish him to be taken seriously- but I wish to lessen the chances that any will become his dupes again.

"Dost thou think thou canst handle this?"

Amber looked thoughtful. "I believe I could," she said, her mind already piecing together possibilities.

"However, I regret to say that I will be taking thy Shamino from thee for a time. Shamino- I am sending thee to Buccanear's Den. I am confident that thou wilt be able to handle thyself there. The writ I give thee will be a little different than the others. Also, thou shalt not leave immediately- timing will be delicate for thy mission. Thou wilt offer amnesty to the pirates of Bucc Den- in exchange for their promises not to raid Britannian supply ships, and their promise to raid the Guardian's. Be careful not to move too quickly- we do not wish to have bored pirates on our hands.

"And finally, Tseramud- I send thee to Vesper. I know that thou'rt unfamiliar with the area, but then none here are, particularly."