It took a lengthy time for Arn and Andra along with their companions to reach the surface once more but they were helped by the clothing’s and supplies they found in the tunnels of the Ergan-Mar and the underground dwellers they faced along the way let them pass without challenge for the power that had controlled them was now gone and they returned to their digging ways.
When they once more walked under the twin suns they met other Nomads that had also been freed of the mind control of the Overloard, some were of the same tribe as they were but others were not but they traveled as friends and after many days and nights they returned to the land of the Akuna and were met by faces they knew well.
Kuno had sentries posted to warn him of enemies that might wish to harm the Outlanders or the Sea People but when word came to him that the King and his mate had returned he rushed to greet them and with him the two tribes cheered and carried food and drink in their hands.
“I had given all of you up for dead” the big warrior said shaking his burly head, “how did you survive the storm and the light from the sky and where have you been these pasted days?”
Arn smiled at his old friend, “That story will take many tankards of Po to tell” then he laughed “I trust there is still some left for me?”
“A little” Kuno replied then slapped the King on his back, “Come let us get started”.
And as the King had promised a great feast was held and the Almadra and the Akuna sang and danced and the Po and Dral flowed like a river and when the merriment had ended they sang songs to remember those who did not return and the Holy Mother led them in prayer. After that they set about rebuilding their lives.
The Holy Wagon was destroyed in fire but from its ashes rose a grander vehicle constructed from Balbar wood that would have gone to building ships for the Sea People but they understood that the Outlanders had saved their lives when they killed the Overlord and it was their way of repaying that debt, it took a great many days and nights to complete and they had to work feverishly for the Burning Time was fast approaching and soon they would be leaving for the open lands of Omargash.
The Akuna had also lost much, their great Hunter Ships were at the bottom of the sea and would take a full cycle to rebuild but they had enough Grana to last them that time and more, and with their Kandrac to guide them they would once more be the rulers of the Western Sea.
The Thungodra also returned but without their leader for Kalgar-Rune was not among those who came back. The Holy Warriors were repentant for their actions of the past and found solace in prayer and self-punishment and vowed never to turn against their people and the Holy Mother again. Being a merciful woman Egmar forgave them and set about training new Handmaidens in the ways of Isarie, and when she was feeling the weight of her years she would go down to the sea at Sunfall and look out over the waves and remember the past.
Forgive me my sister she thought as the waves lapped against the rocks, I did betray you but I pray that you will find a place for me in your heart, below where she stood was the cove where she tossed the metal skull of her forgotten son, forgive me also Rahash, I was your mother yet I turned you away. The past can be a bitter memory but all humans are afflicted with that ability, some learn and some do not, Egmar made a promise to Isarie and herself to become a better person in the future the past cannot be changed but the future is ours to mold.
“Holy Mother” a man’s voice said and Egmar turned to see who had called her name.
The figure was large but his body and face were covered by a tattered robe, he bore no weapons other than a long wooden staff and in the dim light nothing more could be said of the man.
“Do I know you?” asked the Holy Mother.
The figure came closer and pulled back his hood revealing a worn face, the face of Kalgar-Rune.
“Kalgar” Egmar said softly, “You have come back to us”.
The Thungodra leader shook his head, “I am here but I have not come back”, his voice was solemn and filled with remorse, “Many cycles ago I took a vow to protect the Holy Mother from all harm and I broke that promise, my arrogance drove me to kill those that I should have protected and sin clouded my judgment, but now my mind is clear and I will spend the rest of my life seeking forgiveness for what I have done”.
Egmar moved to him and took him by the hand, “Come back to us and you will see that the Goddess has forgiven you”.
But Kalgar shook his head, “I will never see again”.
And hearing those words the Holy Mother looked into his eyes but they did not look back and then she understood, “You have blinded yourself”.
“Yes” he replied, “I will spend my last days as a Sun-Gazer and pray that Isarie will forgive me and in my darkness, I might see her wisdom, now I must go” and he lifted up his strong hand and touched her on the cheek, “Pray for me”.
Then he turned and left her side and she did not call him back for she knew that each must follow their own path no matter how painful that might be.
There were others who also had paths to follow, Osh and Alune’s wagon had likewise been destroyed but like the Holy Wagon it was restored and filled with gifts and treasures from both the Nomads and the Akuna, hidden treasures, keepsakes, statues, ancient writings, all manner of things enough to keep the Callaxion busy for many cycles to come and as Sunfall came and the air hung heavy with the scent from the water, the pair sat around their Washa and the old man looked at the medallion in his wrinkled hands, all the knowledge of this world he thought, there is great power here but it must be used wisely, and as he gazed into the sparkling crystal at its center a voice spoke to him but it did not originate from the device in is hands but it still held much wisdom.
“If you do not eat now your food will get cold” Alune said as she poured out two large bowls of Hagar soup.
Osh tucked the trinket back into his robe and took his bowl from the Touchtender, “I trust you did not put too much Ulon spice in the soup?” the old man asked with a smile.
Alune smiled back at him “I did not put in too much or too little, I put in just the right amount for this time of year and I made sure the Rimar meat was tender enough for your frail teeth”.
The Callaxion took a spoonful of the thick concoction into his mouth, chewed it slowly then swallowed it, “I was a fool to doubt your cooking” then he paused and thought for a moment or two, “I was also foolish in not telling you how much you mean to me and how much I love you”.
Alune knew how hard it was for Osh to say those words and she could have lived out her life with him and been content to never hear them said but it was wonderful to know just the same, “Finish your meal” the Touchtender said with a smile.
And when they were done they sat side by side looking up at the stars saying nothing more.
A distance from the contented elders Arn and Andra also smelled the salted air and felt the wind on their faces but they were not content for something pulled at them from across the sea.
“You feel it, don’t you?” Moonbud said as she gazed at the shimmering waves.
“Yes” the King replied, “but it is not the Overlord that has entered our thoughts, it is something else”.
The Mind-link between them had grown strong again allowing them to know what the other was thinking and forge them into the Twin-Dragons in battle making them unbeatable, but the voice was not one calling them to war rather it spoke of faraway lands where no Outlander had set foot, but with that shared mind secrets were revealed, dark secrets that neither of them wish to be known.
“I have something to tell you” Andra said, “Cian and I, we…”
“Do not speak” the King said, “That was in the past; we are together now and will face the future as one”.
Moonbud looked into the eyes of the man at her side, “What lays before us?” she asked.
Arn took her into his strong arms, “A land unknown where they never heard the name Moric-Kan or the book of Isarie, but whatever comes I will stand at your side and you will be a
t mine and all those who wish us harm will pay a heavy price”.
So Arn placed the welfare of his people in the capable hands of Kuno for he knew that he would be a strong King and lead the Almadra to a bright future and in gratitude the Akuna gave them one of their fastest ships, it was unlike their great hunter ships for it had only one mast set with a square sail and oars for rowing and at the prow was the carved figure of a dragon so an enemy would know what they faced. They loaded it with enough supplies to last them many days and nights and weapons forged from the finest Itarian steel, then Arn sent word to his people and they gathered together near the shore under the Twin-suns.
The warriors dressed themselves in their best armor and polished their horned helmets until they sparkled in the sunlight, in their hands they held the Judgment of Isarie, the heavy war ax that made them masters of Gorn, and once more a golden nail hung around their necks to be driven into their palms to hold the Tooth they needed to enter the Afterlife.
The Elders and Ironworkers also came for they wished to pay homage to the King who guided them and keep them safe in days past and in their hands they held their most cherished objects for they wished to look at them in the days ahead and remember.
The Holy Mother stood with her new Handmaidens dressed in recently fashioned gold and silver robe set with rare shells from the sea and in her hand she held a staff topped with a green crystal that she took from the underground chamber.
Many said that the Thungodra were not welcomed but Egmar insisted that they be there but their dark armor was stained with their own blood and they wore crowns formed from prickly vines to show their remorse.
The Akuna also stood with the Outlanders and they carried heavily laden baskets of food and barrels of drink to please their many guests and bring contentment to the day no matter how it might end, and leading them was Cian who held his regal head high and wore a garment of shimmering cloth set with a magnificent neckless of gold and shells.
When all was ready Arn stood on a platform and spoke out in a loud clear voice.
“Moonbud and I are leaving on a journey across the sea” his words reached the ears of the people and they listened quietly, “If and when we return I cannot say and the voyage will be a hard one and I do not know what we will find at its end, I am your King but I will not command any of you to come but if you wish to stand with us you will have my hand in welcome”.
For a moment no one spoke for they all knew the danger in such a voyage then a tall warrior lifted his ax, “I will go with you!” he shouted.
And hearing that another took up the cry, “I will stand at your side!” he called out.
Then a strong woman who had fought many battles lifted her voice, “I will add my weapon to yours!”
So that call was taken up by the tribe and soon the shipped was filled with eager men and women ready to stand with their leader and face whatever unknown dangers lay ahead.
They named the ship “Nomad” for they wished all to know who they were facing and as the vessel set off on its journey Osh, Alune, and Egmar stood on the dock and waved them goodbye.
“I wonder what they will find?” the old man asked.
Alune held the hand of the old man, “whatever they face they will face it together, as we do”.
Egmar had tears in her eyes as she saw the ship swiftly move away, “Their fate in now in the hands of Isarie as is all of ours”.
And far from the dock Arn and Andra stood side by side and looked out to the open sea and although she knew it was a false memory Moonbud still saw the faces of her mother and brother in her mind. Real or not I still love you both she thought.
Arn was also thinking of days long ago but unlike his mate his past was certain, Karn, Agart, Seeda, you wait for me in the Golden Hall but I and the woman I love will not come soon.
And so they sailed away to whatever fate awaited them but knowing the whims of the Gods it was as certainty that the cycles ahead of them would be filled with adventure, pain, laughter and love and can anyone hope for a better future?
Chapter 39.
Endings and Beginnings