A full cycle has come and gone sense the King and his Mate began their voyage across the Western Sea, what fate they encountered is for others to write about, what I do know I will tell now.
Osh and Alune were very content with their lives for he had the kindest of women to care for him and she had someone to care for.
The Almadra grew strong under the leadership of Kuno for he proved to be a wise King and took a good woman to be his mate and she bore him a strong son who would someday take his place as the head of the tribe.
The other clans of the Nomads have also prospered and many new ones have come into greatness, the Tribe of Many under the leadership of Anais and Kela thrived and the Blind-Prince became a much listened too Wiseman of the Outlands.
The world of Gorn has also changed, the land has healed from the devastation of the Mac-Mar and without their mighty army they lost their power in the Outer Rim and the once great empire became the prey of those they had prey upon.
The Lifeform that lives under the earth and is known as Isarie by the Outlanders has been renewed and once more her power protects the planet, she speaks to them in their dreams and brings them wisdom in the words of her book, her temples have been rebuilt and Nomads come from all the corners of Gorn to pay her homage and bring gifts to lay at the feet of her statues, and Niana’s influence has allowed Off-Worlders to come and go without destruction, as long as they follow her teaching no harm will come to them. Now the world that was once the place to send those castoffs and unwelcome has become a refuse for those seeking a new life.
The Callaxion sat on an outcropping of rock under the Twin-suns and looked over the wavering fields of Kasha wheat on the Sirolian Plains, he had walked a distance from his Karrack and the watchful eye of Alune for he wished to be alone for a while. He wore his traveling robe and carried a staff made of Balbar wood for he had grown weaker despite the loving care of the Touchtender but although his body was frail his mind was still strong but he wondered for how long?
Who will know of the things I have seen? He mused, all that information and observations will vanish when I am gone, it was true that his stories were welcomed by the Almadra and he proved his worth as an Elder of the tribe but was that enough? Then his still keen eyes saw a lone figure coming towards him, he knew it was not a warrior for there was no glint of armor and the visitor was small in stature and not tall like an Outlander. His first instinct was to run for there were still many dangers in the Outlands but how far would his infirm legs carry him before he was brought down? So rather than flee he sat quietly and waited for whatever might come, and besides his endless curiosity was getting the better of him and he wished to know who the stranger might be.
And he didn’t have to wait long for the figure walked to him and drew back the hood of his tattered robe, at first, he thought his eyes were sending him false information but without further study he could not be sure, then he thought that he was simply growing too old and his memory was taking the place of the present so he closed his eyes and opened them once more and this time he was sure of what he saw.
“Endo?’.
“Yes father” the Sandjar replied, “I did not think I would ever see you again but here I am and there you sit”.
Osh wanted to rise and hug him but he was to overcome with emotion, “I thought you had perished but now I find you alive and well and that is a very great gift to me, now you can stay with me and a woman who taught me how to love”.
Endo sat down beside his father and looked into his wrinkled face, “Father I am also glad I have found you but I cannot stay”.
“Why?” the old man asked, “There is plenty of room in our wagon and I have much to tell you about what has happened this passed cycle”.
“I am sorry father but the past holds too much pain for me” Endo’s lifted is head to look into the sky, “I thought that power would bring me contentment and my people would take their rightful place among the Outlanders but that belief cost me the life of the woman I loved and now I have nothing”.
Osh understood loss and the look of pain in the face of his child, “What will you do?” he asked.
“I will find a way off this world and wander the stars and hope that I find a place for myself and when I do I will tell others of the futility of power and how it corrupts all that it touches”.
“Power alone does not destroy” the old man replied “The danger lies in the person who holds it”, then the Callaxion took the medallion that he kept with him and held it out to his son, “Take this with you, it holds all of Gorn and more and it will speak to you when needed, use it to tell my story and the lives of those that have walked this world”.
Endo took the gift from his father and looked at it hard, “I will use it for good and I will remember.”
Then the Sandjar stood up and helped the old man to his feet and hugged him, “I will miss you father” he said softly.
“And I will miss you my son” Osh replied.
They parted and the Callaxion watched his son walk away and he continued to look at him until he vanished into the golden wheat field then he returned to his Karrack and the woman he loved.
Chapter 40.
Farewell.
And now my story is done and I can say that my life has not been in vain, I have gazed upon many lands filled with ancient temples and weapons of war and felt pain and terror that would freeze your heart and stagger your mind, I have traveled with Kings and Warriors, fools and the wise, I have seen creatures great and small that dwell in haunted jungles and under the earth, I have witnessed moons spinning through the heavens in defense of the mother that created them, I have watched as great machines of war destroy all before them and I have seen those same mechanisms defeated by the power of love. And greatest of all is the love that at last has found me and I wake each day to her face and lay myself down beside her at night and she has taught me a song that I will always remember.
Under the Children of Isarie we cross the lands on paths that are free.
From the green jungles of Caltarine to the vastness of the Western Sea.
We will fight when challenged and stand together side by side as one.
Through heat and cold and the sleep of rebirth and all the days that come.
Now the time grows late and I wish to sleep and I do not know if the Angle of Death will come for me in that darkness or pass me by but if he does desire my sole I will smile at him and say.
“I do not fear you”.
He will take my hand and lead me into a place I have never been and whether that be a Golden Hall, a Kingdom under the Western Sea or a green land flowing with food and drink I know I will meet those who I loved and who loved me and my heart will be content.
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