Gamaliel snoozed in front of the fire. Seeing Evaine with the baby, he rolled onto his back, paws flopping about, expecting to have his tummy rubbed. Shal gladly indulged him. "You're lucky to have him, Evaine. Some wizards get toads for familiars." The cat purred loudly. Humility wasn't part of his nature.
Ren's eyes widened over his mug of tea. "If what Miltiades said is right, the gods have big plans for your son. It must be a little intimidating to know that so much will be expected of him."
Tarl and Shal both nodded vigorously, and the cleric responded. "I have to believe that what he said is true." Sipping at his mug, he grew thoughtful. "You know, when I was first learning the ways of the Tyr, we heard a lot about the great warrior Miltiades. He's very important in the history of Tyr's church. He was a hero we were all encouraged to study and emulate. I'm thrilled that I had the chance to meet him. Your adventures with the paladin must have been extraordinary."
Ren laughed. "It was more than extraordinary. And it probably won't surprise you to know that Miltiades hardly mentioned his valorous deeds. I guess the greatest heroes have modesty woven into their souls. We had no idea we accompanied such a legend."
The companions chatted on as the sun set and the stars tiptoed into the night sky. They took turns cuddling the baby they had all helped bring into the world.
Beyond the twinkling skies of Phlan, two gods were looking down on the peaceful scene with opposite emotions. Bane was filled with rage at losing yet another city. His followers had failed him and these mere mortals had defeated some of his most powerful servants.
Bane's only small triumph was the interception of the enchanted blue hammer. He gloated as he thought of the special magics he had used to ensure that the holy weapon would never again be wielded in the name of Tyr. He was convinced the weapon was so well hidden that it would never again surface on Toril.
Bane tried to stiffen the control he held over his few remaining cities. But with Phlan released, he felt his grip ebbing from the regions that should have brought him power. The massive disruption in his magical web was too much for even the evil god to mend. One by one, the cities Bane held captive popped out of their prisons and returned to fill their voids in the landscape. Dozens of Bane's minions died horrible deaths at the wrath of their god as the cities slipped away.
In another realm beyond the skies of Toril, Tyr smiled on the group assembled in Denlor's Tower. His followers had served him well, and a new and powerful warrior was now beginning the long journey that would lead him to be a future hero of renown in Tyr's army.
The god chuckled as he sensed Bane's rage at losing the city and his triumph at stealing the hammer. The artifact was of little consequence to Tyr. Finding the hammer would prove to be an appropriate quest for a certain warrior when he came of age. Tyr looked forward to watching Shal and Tarl's child grow.
The conversation in the tower turned to future plans for the companions. Shal, Tarl, and the baby would remain in Denlor's Tower, keeping an eye on the city they had grown to love. They could only hope that Phlan's future would prove to be more peaceful than its past.
After a lengthy visit with his old friends, Ren planned to return north to claim the valley he had worked so hard to win. And he still hoped to make the acquaintance of the beautiful druid who lived in the next valley.
Evaine and Gamaliel made plans to leave Phlan at first light. They would first visit the hill where Talenthia had given her life to restore and protect the woodlands. Evaine owed her life to Andoralson, and she hoped to look after the region for the druid, making regular visits to Talenthia's woods. There was also the matter of rebuilding Evaine's tower. And Faerun was still plagued by other pools of darkness. The wizard had no intention of abandoning her quest.
Evaine left the group around the fire to rummage among her belongings. Returning to the circle, she held out the magical brazier to Tarl. "Miltiades entrusted me with this artifact of Tyr. I promised to return it to your church after our adventures were over. Can I trouble you to deliver it to your elders? I don't know whether any of its magic remains-it may not light again.
Tarl smiled. "I'd be happy to return it. And under the circumstances, I'll bet that Tyr will light this artifact at least once more."
As midnight neared, the friends said good night and trickled away to the guest rooms in the tower.
Evaine packed some of her belongings for the next morning's journey, then slid into a real bed for the second time in months. As she lay thinking, the giant cat jumped up to share the bed.
Mistress, the cat communicated, there's something I've been meaning to ask you.
The wizard was dozing off, but she prompted the cat to continue.
How many babies have you delivered in your long and adventurous lifetime? Gam asked.
Babies? Why, that was my first.
But you told Tarl you had done it before. The cat stared at her.
I told him no such thing. I simply told him my age, and he concluded the rest. I didn't lie to him, but I gave him an answer that stopped his worrying. Now go to sleep, Gam. And don't hog the blankets.
The cat stared at his mistress a moment longer, then lay his chin on a giant paw. There was no limit to the surprises buried in this woman.
Soon Gamaliel's purring penetrated the bed and lulled them both to sleep.
EPILOGUE
Phlan was back in place. Her citizens immediately busied themselves putting their homes and their lives in order. The Moonsea and its surrounding woodlands once more provided fish, game, timber, and other necessities of life so badly missed in the cavern.
Phlan's council called for a two-day festival to celebrate the city's safe return. Singing and dancing carried late into the night, and by day the streets were filled with tiny stands selling every imaginable food and beverage. The scents of roasted boar, fresh raspberry pies, steamed fish, hot bread, wine, and ale mingled among the sounds of happy voices and raucous singing.
But as the city again settled into a normal routine, the stress and exhaustion of months in captivity began to take its toll. Children and adults alike suffered horrible nightmares of the endless assaults on the city and the horrible creatures that had threatened the lives of innocents. Neighbors bickered among each other, accusing close friends of luring them into the bard's influence. The council was blamed for too much action, too little action, the wrong actions. As the days wore on, the once-unified Phlan edged closer and closer to the brink of civil war.
Phlan was not alone. The other cities Bane had stolen suffered similar hardships. Families split up, friendships were broken. Governments cracked and wobbled. The most important cities on the Moonsea stood on the brink of collapse and devastation.
Bane reveled in the chaos and destruction. The breakdown of the cities would make their citizens easy targets.
Sensing Bane's evil intentions, Tyr scrutinized the cities across the continent. Certainly, some of the inhabitants were evil, but none deserved to fall prey to Bane so easily. The evil god would have to work much harder to conquer the cities. Tyr would not allow his rival to scoop up the innocents without a fair struggle.