“Just stall. You know how, I’m sure.” Erri started back up the stairs.
“Wait!” Kherda cried. “What are you discussing?”
Erri smiled mysteriously. “Secrets. Matters of faith,” he said. Then he popped back inside the cave.
Kherda sighed, wishing they’d let him know before they changed the ritual. But he had the coronation to control and little time for resentment. He called upon years of experience as a professional courtling and stalled.
Erri found Pelmen embracing Bronwynn and Serphimera in a crushing hug from Rosha. “Where have you been?” the new king of the One Land was demanding.
“On our way here,” Serphimera answered. “At least, we’ve been for the last two weeks. Before that we were—sleeping.”
Bronwynn peered at Pelmen. “Where?”
“Underneath the mountain.”
“How did you survive?” Erri asked.
“In your own words, remember the Power!” Pelmen looked at the three, smiling. “I assume that the Power saved us.”
“And the explosion?”
“I never heard the explosion. I woke in darkness with Serphimera beside me. It took us a while to convince ourselves that we weren’t some kind of shades, but then we started looking for a way out.”
“We were in a tunnel of some kind,” Serphimera added. “When we reached the end of it, we found ourselves climbing out in the middle of the Great North Fir. Then we heard of the coronation and came here to wait. We couldn’t miss that.”
“But how did you see to get out?” Rosha asked.
Pelmen shrugged. “We had light.” He stretched out his hand before him, and suddenly a globe of blue flame burst into life above his palm.
“Shaping!” Rosha whispered in shocked surprise. “Then magic isn’t gone! Some of the powers haven’t left?”
“Some apparently never leave. They’re just not ready for new discoverers.”
Rosha and Bronwynn stared at their friends in surprised delight. Erri stood to one side, chuckling.
“We buried you,” Rosha remembered suddenly. “We’ve got to tell the people you’re alive!” He started for the cave mouth. Pelmen grabbed his wrist and pulled him back.
“Please,” Pelmen said quietly. “Don’t do that.”
“Why not?”
Pelmen looked at Serphimera. “It’s very pleasant for us now—a welcome rest. Give us that. Then, after you’ve moved into this underground castle, we’ll find you from time to time. There are corridors that lead to other entrances, and we can come and go without being noticed.”
Rosha looked back and forth between them, then nodded slowly. “So be it,” he said. He glanced at his wife. “That’s all right with you?”
Bronwynn smiled. “It is indeed.”
“Good,” Rosha said, he grabbed his wife and the prophet by their hands. “Come on. We’ve a coronation to conclude.” They started for the mouth of the old twi-beast’s lair, but there Rosha paused and looked over his shoulder.
“We’ll see you later,” he said firmly.
Pelmen the powershaper smiled. “We’ll come.”
Then the new King and Queen of the One Land stepped back into the sunshine to accept the rights and responsibilities of their realm. As he smiled down at his new subjects, Rosha permitted himself a quick glance over the shoulder. But Pelmen and Serphimera had already gone. His throat ached with a touch of sorrow, but he quickly overcame it. This was a day of joy. He raised his hand high above his head, and waved.
Glossary
Admon Faye: An obscenely ugly slaver and outlaw, chosen by Flayh to be head of security in the High Fortress.
Agarnalath: A warrior of Lamath. Asher Once Chieftain of Defense and Expansion of Lamath, he was eaten by Vicia-Heinox while helping Pelmen to kill the beast.
Bainer: A Mari warrior allied to Syth and Mar-Yilot.
Barleb: Operator of the barge between the North Coast and Sythia Isle and a servant of Syth.
Belra: A Mari warrior, Citylord of Garnabel and Shurl of the Upper Coast, allied with Dorlyth against Pahd mod Pahd-el.
Blez: One of the ancient trading houses participating in the Council of Elders, the merchant monopoly.
Blue flyer: A magical breed of bird used to carry messages over long distances.
Bronwynn: Queen of Chaomonous, wife to Rosha mod Dorlyth, and long a friend of Pelmen Dragonsbane.
Carlog: One of the larger cities of Ngandib-Mar, located in the Furrowmar region.
Cerdeb: A Mari leader from the Downlands region allied to Syth mod Syth-el.
Chanos: A lord of Ngandib-Mar loyal to King Pahd with a long personal grudge against Tuckad.
Chaomonous: “The Golden Land,” the largest of the three nations clustered around Dragonsgate, ruled by Queen Bronwynn.
Chimolitha: “Chim,” a pleasant-tempered tugolith who was involved in the near execution of Pelmen and who helped him survive.
Chogi Ian Pahd-el: Mother of King Pahd mod Pahd-el and a powerful force in the administration of Ngandib-Mar.
Clawsp: See Sugar-clawsp.
Danyilyn: A professional actress in Chaomonous and a close friend of Pelmen.
Dolna: Official handler of tugoliths in Lamath.
Downlands: One of the six regions of Ngandib-Mar, located far to the south in the area of Arl Lake.
Dorlyth mod Karis: Warrior, hero, father to Rosha mod Dorlyth and friend to Pelmen Dragonsbane. He was made Jorl of the Westmouth by Pahd mod Pahd-el for his victory over Chaomonous.
Dragonfaith: The ancient religion of Lamath, centered on worship of the two-headed dragon.
Dragonsgate: The central mountain pass connecting Lamath, Chaomonous and Ngandib-Mar, formerly the home of Vicia-Heinox.
Drax: A three-sided table game played throughout the three lands, usually with wagers on the outcome.
Erri: The Prophet of Lamath and chief architect of the growth of the skyfaith, as well as the potential ruler of Lamath.
Ferlyth mod Kerlyth: Cousin and ally of Dorlyth mod Karis and Jorl of the Furrowmar.
Flayh: Once the ruling elder of the trading house of Ognadzu, now an immensely powerful wizard residing in the High Fortress of Ngandib. His altershape is the dog.
Furrowmar: One of the six regions of Ngandib-Mar composed of the highland farmlands in the central west.
Garnabel: A large city in Ngandib-Mar, located in the Furrowmar.
Gerrig: A professional actor in Chaomonous and close friend of Pelmen.
Golden Throng: The army of Chaomonous.
Hann: One of the merchant families participating in the Council of Elders, the merchant monopoly.
High Fortress of Ngandib: The ancient castle situated on a spur jutting from the High Plateau that was the home of Pahd, which was brought magically to life by Flayh.
High Plateau: The outcropping of rock in central Ngandib-Mar upon which the city of Ngandib was built.
Imperial House of Chaomonous: The royal palace of the ruling family of Chaomonous, brought to life before the making of the dragon by the wizard Nobalog.
The Isles: One of the six regions in Ngandib-Mar, composed of all the islands off the North Coast in the far north of the land.
Jagd: Ruling Elder of the trading family of Uda, residing in Chaomonous.
Janos mod Jerrid: Cousin to Pahd mod Pahd-el, Jorl of the Nethermar, and ally with Pahd against the rebels of the North Coast.