L. Modesitt: The Chaos Balance

“No. We were not sent to destroy anyone,” Nylan answered.

“That does not matter,” said Zeldyan. “In that, Fornal was right. You have changed Lornth, and all of Candar. You have won the battle, but my brother and regent was lost. You have saved my son’s birthright, yet that right is not what it once was. You have raised dark forces, and shown in doing so that an outlander or even a peasant can bring down the mighty.”

“You have brought down the mightiest empire in Candar,” added Gethen, “and while none should fault you, I have lost both my sons.” His head bowed.

Nylan understood where the regent’s words had to lead, but he waited. Ayrlyn squeezed his hand.

“Lornth would not be grateful if we did not thank you for deliverance,” said Zeldyan. “Yet no regent, nor my son, will rest easy should you stay in Lornth. Against your powers, I cannot prevail. Yet I must insist, though it mean my death, that when you are well…when you are well…you leave Lornth.”

“We will supply all that you wish to ease that journey,” added Gethen. “And some golds for your future needs. Though I wonder whether you should need such.”

Another silence settled, and the south wind raised the odor of sulfur and death again.

“We will need some supplies, and a little time to recover.” For the land to recover enough to let us travel…

“It’s better that way,” added Ayrlyn. What she said was absolutely true, and misleading, but the balance was sufficient.

“You cannot see. Will you be able soon to manage?” asked Zeldyan, anger, confusion, and compassion mixed in her voice.

“We managed this.” Nylan’s arm gestured toward the smoke- and dust-filled skies, across the charred grasslands. “We’ll manage. Naclos…the Great Forest will take us in. And there will be a place for those who prefer balance to force.” Like us .

Ayrlyn’s hand took his, and they stood, the unseen distant forest of Naclos behind them, with them, with the sense of balance that infused them-and Weryl-the balance that they needed, the balance that Sylenia and Tonsar, and others would come to accept and appreciate.

Sightless eyes turned south; the two angels stood, heads unbowed.

After a moment, both regents inclined their heads.

“Better you leave when you are ready,” said Gethen. “Few will remember the good you did, and many the evil. Though the good be far greater, it has cost us dearly.”

“It always does,” said Nylan quietly.

Always , affirmed Ayrlyn.

“May you always be kind to Lornth,” Zeldyan finally said.

“So long as Lornth is kind to Naclos,” Ayrlyn answered.

The regents rode silently from the tent and the angels.

“Where does it end?” Nylan finally asked.

“Never. The balance doesn’t.”

“You’re awfully philosophical.”

“No. Practical.”

Arms linked, unseeing, but with sure steps, they went to greet the waking Weryl. Behind them, thin lines of white and black smoke swirled into plumes of gray. Before them-across the changed lands-waited the Great Forest…and the Balance.

And the Balance .