Robert Newcomb: A March into Darkness

Wigg was about to speak again when a group of about forty men approached. They were of varying ages, and some had young girls and boys accompanying them. Each one reverently went to his knees and bowed his head before Tristan and Wigg. Tristan looked knowingly at the First Wizard, then back at them.

“Do not kneel before us,” Tristan said. “Please rise. All is forgiven.”

One of the men walked forward. He looked into Wigg’s eyes.

“On behalf of us all, we wish to thank you and theJin’Sai for saving us,” he said. “We owe you our lives, and the lives of our children.”

“No apology is needed, Nathan,” Wigg answered. “It is to the Vigors’ benefit that you and your fellow consuls have been returned to the fold.”

With tears in her eyes, Mallory approached. She curtsied toward Tristan and then toward Wigg.

“Thank you for bringing my father back to the Vigors,” she said. “I thought I had lost him forever.”

Things have come full circle, Tristan thought as he looked at the talented Fledgling. So much has changed, yet so much remains the same.

With the return of the Conclave to Tammerland, it was decided to try to bring the traitorous consuls back into the fold. Because the lean of their blood signatures had been so drastically altered, the Conclave mystics suspected that moving them rightward would be a long and painful process for the consuls to endure. They had been right.

It had taken two weeks of arduous work, but it had been worth it. Just as Adrian was the First Sister of the Acolyte order, the newly restored Consular order would now need a First Consul. Although he had yet to be told, the Conclave had unanimously voted to grant Nathan the post. Consuls in dark blue robes were finally prowling the Redoubt once more. But now they shared the underground labyrinth with the acolytes.

Feeling the need to be alone, Tristan excused himself. He walked across the floor, then went through one of the doors and onto the stone patio that surrounded the Great Hall. After a time he heard the sounds of boot heels. Without turning around, he knew that Tyranny was approaching.

They stood silently watching the sun set for a time. When she finally turned toward him, there were tears in her eyes. Her left arm was in a sling and she limped a bit, but her wounds would heal. True to form, she commandingly blinked her tears away.

“I’m not very good at good-byes,” she said quietly. “So I thought I would do it now.”

Tristan gave her a short smile. “I know,” he replied. “I’m no better.”

Tyranny gave him a soft kiss on one cheek. “Goodbye, Jin’Sai, ” she said. “You will be missed.”

“And good-bye to you,” he answered. “I hope to see you again one day.” Then he gave her another little smile. “Take good care of my Black Ships,” he added.

Tyranny started to answer, but she was suddenly too overcome. After giving him another kiss, she simply walked away.

While the merriment continued in the Great Hall, Tristan noticed that the sun had nearly disappeared.

Soon, now, he thought.

AS TRISTAN STOOD LOOKING AT THE GLEAMING AZUREpass, a shudder went through him. He was about to abandon everyone he held dear and ride into an uncertain future. Suddenly the price of fulfilling his destiny seemed high indeed.

Wigg, Shailiha, and the warriors who had been posted here stood with him. The night was clear, and dawn would come soon. The stout litter bearers had flown all night. Another litter had brought Shadow along. Because Tristan and Xanthus had entered the pass on horseback, the prince thought it best to do so again.

His good-byes to everyone back at the palace had been emotional. After the wedding celebration had quieted, a receiving line had been formed in his honor. Tristan had walked down the line, bidding each person farewell and sometimes giving them last-minute orders. When he finally turned to walk away, there hadn’t been a dry eye in the room.

Tristan looked up toward the mountain peaks lining either side of the pass. The Envoys had revealed some of the Tolenkas’ secrets to him, but he knew that many more remained to be learned. As always, the shining pass rose so high that it disappeared into the fog gathering around the mountaintops.

Knowing that it was time to go, he turned and looked at Wigg and Shailiha. He walked over to Wigg and embraced him.

“Thank you for everything that you have taught me,” he said. “When all is said and done, there are no words…”

Wigg brushed away a tear. “I know,” he said.

“Watch over my sister as you would me,” Tristan said, trying to give the wizard a smile. “That is my last order to you.”

“On my life,” Wigg promised, his voice cracking a bit. “Stay safe.”

Tristan turned to take Shailiha in his arms. Despite her best efforts to be brave, she was shaking, and tears filled her eyes. Scowling, she composed herself and grabbed either side of his worn leather vest like she was never going to let go.

“Must it be this way?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered. “You know that as well as I. This is what I was born to do.”

“But what will I do without you?” she asked. She finally managed to give him a short smile. “After all, I’ve gotten pretty used to having my brother around.”

“You’ll do what I would do, if I was still here,” he answered. Tristan looked over at Wigg.

“Do you see that old man standing over there?” he asked. “Value his wisdom and guidance, and that of the other Conclave members. That is why I chose them. But also know that sometimes even the mystics can be wrong. When you make decisions, always follow your heart-even if some of your advisors disagree.”

“Will I see you again?” Shailiha asked.

Tristan smiled. “You’re forgetting something,” he answered. He reached down and lifted the gold medallion from her chest. “Any time you want to visit me, call forth the spell,” he said.

A look of hope crossed the princess’s face. “Our medallions can bridge the western world to ours?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered. “I believe that is why Hoskiko provided us with the spell. She knew how difficult my leaving Eutracia would be.”

“I love you,” Shailiha said. Her voice was little more than a whisper.

“And I love you,” Tristan answered. “But now I must go.”

Tristan walked over to where Shadow stood waiting, then threw himself up into the saddle. Like he knew where they were about to go, the spirited black stallion danced about a bit before settling down. Wigg walked over to Shailiha and put one arm around her.

When Tristan looked down at them, his heart was in his throat. “I love you both,” he said softly. “Never forget that.”

Tristan wheeled Shadow around and headed for the pass. He stopped Shadow and raised his arms, calling on the Forestallment granted to him by the Envoys.

Wigg and Shailiha watched in awe as a white line formed on the face of the pass. Starting at the bottom, it soon climbed the surface of the pass to disappear into the clouds. Then the pass parted into halves, revealing a dark, seemingly limitless emptiness beyond. Without looking back, Tristan spurred Shadow into the abyss.

Then the pass closed, sealing theJin’Sai and its many secrets within.

AS ON HIS OTHER JOURNEYS THROUGH THE PASS, TRISTANcould feel Shadow moving beneath him, but he could hear nothing and see only azure. A dense fog surrounded him, its depths so all-encompassing that it appeared limitless.

Just then Shadow stepped from the fog. As the azure mist surrounding him disappeared, Tristan looked around. He was indeed in Crysenium. The room was the same one in which he had awakened during his first visit.