| The trip back to Trillan was extremely awkward for everyone. Each of them could not comprehend the presence of so many people appearing suddenly at the harbor. Conversation was very limited, as Kat and Clara feared getting reprimanded by Jervin and Ophelia for not succeeding in their quest. Night eventually fell on the ocean, and each person took turns watching the ship and steering it while the other slept, although everyone seemed to sleep very uneasily. The following morning, after moderate sleep deprivation, Hermione, still unaware of what day it was, deduced -- although a bit unsure of herself -- that Trillan was not more than a few hours away, and that they could probably reach the shores of Trillius by midday. "Sometimes I wish that we did not have to return home," the captain said, heavy of heart. "King Jervin will hang us for our failure." "Do not say such things," Clara said. "I remain slightly hopeful that he will grant us clemency." Well, maybe not.... Kat stood on the bow, looking ahead of herself. "Whether sympathetic or contemptuous," she said, not even turning around, "we have no control over something like that." The next two hours of travel were even more awkward; no one wished to speak to another. Everyone was very quiet and reserved; even Clara rushed to her quarters to pray to S'Allumer repeatedly for Jervin to spare her life. Kat again cried, the image of a possible execution rushing across her mind. Hermione continued to steer the ship towards home; the sun was high in the sky, a signal of midday. She clutched her compass pendant in her left hand and steered with the right, trying to maintain her edgy composure. Then, suddenly, her head lifted a bit, seeing the outline of a land mass. "Trillan is in my sights," Hermione called out. "We are home. Won't you join me in our anthem?" Kat, Clara, and Salem stood up from the deck and joined in the age-old tradition of singing the 11-verse national anthem of Trillan on their way into their waters. It was a somewhat spirited chorus aboard the Covenant that day, considering that the warmth of song and spirit would be one last high note before possibly being punished for incompetence. The last verse of the anthem finished well before the ship reached the docks. Suddenly, Clara's eyes widened, then she pointed to the shores. "Wait, look there," she said. "Are those--are those more people?" All looked together as they soon made out the silhouette of large throngs of people standing on the shores, waving to them. "Trillanians?" Hermione exclaimed. "There are so many people there! Surely there were not that many when we left!" Kat examined the shores as the ship drew closer. "Not only Trillanians," she said, "but also from other nations. Even from Lamuth!" Hermione was stunned. Looking carefully, she saw the flags of not just Trillan, whose flag was a white field containing the religious symbol of the Penitence, but other countries and principalities, such as the nine-square red and black checkers of Lamuth and the light blue and yellow crest of the Crystal Shores. So many people! Hermione thought, beginning to smile, which was uncharacteristic of her behavior. Have they come to praise us, not berate us? Kat and Clara smiled as the Covenant approached the docks. Salem anchored the ship, inciting a great cheer from the crowd. There must have been thousands of people waiting for them, all showing their love for the young adventurers. Hermione, her spirit renewed, stood atop the bow of her ship. "We have returned!" she cheered, raising her hat. The crowd applauded loudly for her and raised their hands in praise. Kat, Clara, Salem, and Hermione all walked down to the docks by means of the plank, where they were greeted by a group of Guardians, all wearing their white belts. They took the adventurers to the palace. As the Guardians and Captain Hermione approached the gates, Jervin and Ophelia, along with their advisors and Guardian bodyguards, rushed out to greet them. "My friends!" King Jervin shouted. "You have returned; you have done wonderfully!" Everyone was surprised. "We have, your majesty?" Clara asked. "But we don't have the sword." "But don't think of it that way, Guardian Clara," he insisted. "Come inside at once. You all must be informed. I have a great deal of surprises for you." Kat, Clara, Salem, and Hermione followed the king and queen back to the palace and into the throne room. Their eyes spread wide as they discovered the other people in the room. In front of them, in a neat half circle, stood familiar individuals. There was Keilich, Shaman of S'Allumer, still as old and bent as ever, standing beside Clerics Isengrim and Erma, Salem's mother and father. Then there was Relnor, Researcher, from the Peak of Mir'Adash, a middle-aged man, dressed in his red robes and standing beside a lovely young tigress, who appeared to be half his age. Salem embraced his adoptive parents. "Mother, father, I missed you," he exclaimed, holding them close. "I hope you have been safe here." "We have, Salem," Isengrim said. "Congratulations on your adventure. It is good to have you home." Kat approached Keilich. "Good to see you again, Shaman," she said. "I trust you have been healthy?" "Better than in my younger years," Keilich laughed, in his 60-year-old voice. "We have waited for a long time to see you return home. King Jervin has learned of your success and will reward you with eternal happiness." Clara approached Relnor, who stood with another lady. "Relnor, I can't believe you're here," she laughed, greeting him and his lady. "How could I not come?" he said, smiling. "Oh, this is my estranged lady, Ivy." "It's a pleasure," Clara said. "Indeed," Ivy said. "It is because of your trip that I could ever see Relnor again, as well as so many others with whom we lived." Jervin stepped into the half circle. "Friends, welcome home," he said. "The world will learn forever of your quest and sing your praise for ages." "What about the sword, your majesty?" Clara asked. Jervin smiled. "I believe Keilich may have something to say about that," he said. "Shaman?" Keilich, with a cough, raised his voice. "You will never see that sword again," he said. "For, you see, the sword, once completed, will channel through its blade the powers of our savior and cleanse the world for us, bringing light to all of its dark corners. But learn that the energy released from such a channeling will cause the sword to self destruct, and its components will be scattered randomly. You may never see any portion of the holy sword again in your lives." Next page >> |