*Well, there you have it. You've got your reward (for reading almost to the end of two very long books), just as Master Eremis achieved his. We're not out of the woods yet kiddos. Terisa feels rumblings, but hasn't seen any rumbling effects in the Vale of Esmerel. What's the deal with the slug-beast? Is it dead? Has Gart killed both Artagel and Geraden? If the rumblings have stopped does this mean Gilbur has somehow been nuetralized? Fortunately King Joyse and Prince Kragen were not translated, at least the last time she looked. Some answers are, finally, about to come her way as she struggles out of the nude Imager's grasp and Artagel, Geraden and Nyle appear in the doorway. Three of the Domne's best, ready to kick butt on Mr. E, but they see he isn't moving, relieved they hug and collapse and turn to the mirror to watch the fighting.Myste wrote:At the center of the scene, facing Eremis, stood a tall, naked man with a nose that was too big, cheekbones that sloped too much toward his ears, a thatch of black hair too far back on his skull. Despite their usual intelligence and humor, the man’s eyes were wide, almost gaping.
His arms held an unattractively dressed woman. Her body sagged against him as if the last of strength had faded away…
He was seeing himself, and her; that was his own Image echoed in the flat mirror. It had a luminous quality, a precise perfection, which startled him like a revelation, as if it were all he needed to know…
The last thing he felt before his mind vanished into eternal translation was a sense of complete astonishment.
*Joyse, Kragen and the Termigan had Festten's forces sealed off from three angles and Cadwal reinforcements were no longer an option-the only way out was straight into the side of a dead slug-beast. The High King couldn't move and Alend and Mordant fought like gods.It's focus had to be adusted before they could see King Joyse. He had ridden so far down the valley, was so heavily engaged among the Cadwals, that he was momentarily out of view. When they located him, however, they saw almost at once that he might win this battle.
At the sight Artagel's face shone, and Geraden cheered. "Look at him! Didn't I tell you he was worth serving?" He had apparently forgotten that Nyle might have a different reaction. "Didn't I?"
*A catapult was ready to throw in Joyse's direction and Terisa took her sole act in the battle by translating a strut out of it and making it collapse. It flew out of the mirror (too bad it didn't hit Eremis) to the cheers of "Sons" and men on the field. By then Terisa was ready to leave.
If she remained where she was, with Master Eremis like that in front of her, she might begin sobbing wildly.
"
*There they found Havelock cradling a dead Vagel with a branch sticking out of his belly, singing.Shouldn't we cover him?" (said the pitying Geraden)
Terisa shook her head. "Leave him alone. He's probably happy that way."
In suprise and relief, Geraden gave a shout of laughter.
Artagel laughed, too, a loud, long hoot of mirth. Even Nyle managed a wan smile.
...(they) laughed all the way back to the Image-room.
"I understand." the mad, old Imager crooned as if he were comforting a child. "I understand everything. Everything."
*Then their attention was turned to the flat glass that revealed King Joyse swordless, surging towards the High King. Terisa's action seemed to signal Cadwal that no further help of Imagery was forthcoming and that they had no escape. Festten was losing his mind. Surmising that the only safe way out of the stronghold would be through another translation Geraden began refocusing a mirror. Havelock refused to come saying he would do any nessesary "mop-up" work. Artagel laughed at how blithe this translation business had become to him and Geraden saw the immediate importance to get Nyle to Joyse as soon as possible. Terisa went first, saying to Geraden (with a raised eyebrow),
"If you go wrong this time, you are really and truly going to owe me an apology."
*Stumbling out in front of Myste, Elega and Master Basonage, Terisa is soon followed by Artagel and Nyle. Artagel brandishes the Monomach's sword to much cheering. Finally, Geraden, flops into the slush on his face (much like he did in the pig's swallow in Domne, so many years ago) but Elega is, now, relieved and gladdened rather that embarrased for him.
*Now to make a long story short: Joyse pulled Festten off his mount, something (Havelock?) frightened the reinforcements and scattered them away from the outskirts of the valley. And the High King's men surrendered in droves. Joyse had won what should have been an impossible victory and much cheering spread though the valley. Basonage hooted in glee, Elega cried tears of joy and Geraden almost broke Terisa's back with a bear hug. But not everyone was happy, primarily Myste, who had lost Darsint and Nyle, who almost brought Joyse to ruin.
*Then something strange began taking shape down the valley, silence ensued and the slug-beast opened it's maw. A spaceman yanked open it's teeth and staggered out. Then it hit buttons and it's metallic suit fell to the ground, leaving him in his underwear.
*The Cadwals were rounded up and marched. Festten was put on a smaller horse with his hands tied and Joyse and Kragen escorted him up to the pennon. The Termigan was the first to spin up to Terisa and Geraden and with a frown of satisfaction he said,"God-rotting suit," he panted harshly. "Ox-supply gave out. Like everything else."
"Do you mean," Artagel asked in amazement, "he actually let that thing eat him?"
Several of the guards nodded.
The cheering started again, louder this time.
Myste's face seemed to flare with joy. She left the hillside at a run, racing to join Darsint."
"You gave me good advice," he said loudly, so that everyone could hear the lord of Termigan approach as close as he was able to an apology. "I should have listened sooner."
*Kragen headed straight for Elega and King Joyse (to the fading sounds of horns) asked what else had happened. Artagel reported that Gart was dead, Geraden told him that Gilbur was no more and the Havelock had killed Vagel and Terisa (more concerned for Nyle than anything else) stated that Eremis was frozen for eternity. Joyse dismounted and waked up to Nyle,
"Nyle forgive me."
Nyle's face twitched helplessly. Forgive---? My Lord King, I betrayed you."
"Yes!" King Joyse retorted at once. "you betrayed me ---as my daughter Elega betrayed me---as the Congery betrayed me. And because I was betrayed this victory became possible. Everything you did against me, you did out of love and honor. And for that reason everything you did played it's part in the saving of my realm. You betrayed me to do Mordant good, Nyle. I failed you. I failed to see your importance, your worth, when my esteem would have been to your benefit.
"I could not have protected you from hurt. But I could have helped you place a higher value on yourself."
Nyle tried to answer; ther were a number of things he wanted to say. But he couldn't control his weeping.
Both Artagel and Geraden put their arms around him.
King Joyse turned away to address everyone within earshot.
"Nyle has suffered," he announed in a tone both grim and elated, sorry and glad. "Do you here me? He is not a traitor. He has suffered as the Perdon suffered, and as the Tor suffered, and Castellan Lebbick, because his love was strong and he did not understand."
As he spoke, his voice carried farther and farther, until it reached the walls and the armies, the men of Mordant and Alend and Cadwal throughout the valley.
"A great many good men have suffered and died, among them Master Quillion, who served my purposes when I could risk them with no one else, and Castellan Norge, who served Orison and Mordant and all of you with his life. And with their pain they have purchased a victory which we could not have gained otherwise.
"Remember that they were hurt for us! Remember that we have freedom and victory and life because of them!
"And because all of you fought like heroes!
"Now the world is ours, and we must heal it. From this day, let us make our world a place of peace."
When he finished, the cheering went on for a long time.
) mounted atop a pillar smack dab in the middle of Carmag--sorta like Lord Nelson in Traflagar Square, or wherever that statue is... 
* 
