See Chapter One (A) for Disclaimers
Epilogue
After advising her mother, Esmere lingered in her mother's dwelling for some time. But the goddess of seers and witches sensed the loneliness of another on this night, when no one else seemed to be lonely. And Esmere, who remembered this other soul from her childhood, could not ignore that loneliness.
With just a thought, she appeared in the dark cavern which housed her 'cousin.' Esmere said mildly, "Do not ask me why I'm here, cousin. Then I would tell you that I felt your loneliness, and you would have to pretend that you're as evil as your foster father. I have not the energy to deal with self-deception on this night."
The figure in black stiffened, then the entity the humans, and some of the gods, called Lady Red Eyes, turned to face her. There had been a time when she had another name. She still had that name. But out of respect for her cousin, who wished no one to know that name, Esmere used the nickname given by her mother years earlier.
"I have chosen my path, cousin. I have never asked for your pity, or even your compassion. I have what I want. I need nothing from Zeuran, or your mother, or you," came the answer. Esmere rolled her eyes in annoyance. Here they went again. Then again, she had half-expected this.
"Have I offered pity? Or compassion? As you said, Lyren, you have chosen your path. But tonight, my mother has chosen to mate again with a human, and doubtless, I shall receive another younger sibling from this mating. The boy is a friend of the BeastMaster. The BeastMaster himself is reuniting with his sister. If you will not accept your own loneliness, perhaps you'll accept mine," Esmere answered.
The hood was pushed back, and Lyren said softly, "You, cousin? The goddess of magick and non-sorcery? The daughter of the goddess of mothers? What would you know of loneliness? What would you know about revenge? Or anything which I feel?" Esmere burst out laughing.
Her cousin stared at her in shock, and when Esmere could finally speak, she gasped, "What do I know of revenge? Oh, come, cousin! You were never a fool, even when you were under my uncle's tutelage! You of all people should not ask me such things! And loneliness? I have forgotten more about loneliness than most humans ever learn."
Lyren looked away, murmuring, "Forgive me, cousin. I forgot I was speaking to you, rather than one of your younger sisters. Why are you here?" The dark queen returned her gaze to Esmere's face, her tone curious. A wisp of hair fell into her eyes and Lyren pushed it away with her claw-hand.
"Because I've missed you, cousin. Because even after everything, I am still your friend, even if you don't want to hear that," Esmere answered. She paused, then added, "You spoke of making choices, cousin. You made your choice several thousand years ago. But choices are approaching for us all, all of the children of Zeuran."
Lyren frowned, not understanding her, and Esmere explained, "A war is brewing, my dear cousin, a war with my uncle. I come to you tonight, because that war is now inevitable. And when it happens, I must know if you will stand with us against my uncle. Or if you will continue on your lonely crusade against him."
"You know the answer to that, cousin. As you say, I chose my path long ago. Not just to destroy the Ancient One, your uncle. But the path of damnation, the path of deviltry. I cannot ask you to join me in my damnation. Nor can I change my mind now, what's done is done," Lyren answered.
"It need not be so, cousin!" Esmere said passionately. Lyren looked away, and Esmere boldly took a step forward, catching her cousin's chin, and turned her face back until her eyes met Esmere's. She was one of the few who could get away with this, and she used what advantages she could.
Seeing that she had the attention of the other, the goddess told the former student of her uncle, "Listen to me, Lyren. You need not relinquish the Burning Forest. My grandfather will ever need someone to guard those malevolent souls which seek to do harm to others. But join with us!"
"I cannot!" her cousin answered, and Esmere flinched. For in those two simple words, Esmere heard the pain in her cousin's heart. Lyren said more quietly, "I cannot. My path is my own, there can be no other." Esmere sighed and nodded, understanding what her long-time friend meant, then the goddess turned to leave. As she did so, Lyren added in a low voice, "I have made my choice, cousin. I pray that all of the gods make their choices wisely." Esmere turned to face the other woman.
"Regardless of your choice, dearest Alorie," she said, using her cousin's true name, "I will always love you." She cupped her cousin's face in her hands and gently kissed the forehead of the dark queen, and then disappeared. There were other choices to be made.
~*~*~*~
There were others making choices that night. Amerys gently settled the Terron against a wall of her cave, regarding him with interest. He would give up his own life, his own freedom, to save the woman he loved and their child. Hardly your average Terron, but the Sorceress was quickly learning that 'average' didn't interest her, not even in humans. Or, perhaps she should say, especially not in humans.
The trick, she thought, is learning the extraordinary qualities of each person. Dar, the BeastMaster, had more than one. There were his powers, of course. But she had learned especially in the last few weeks that there was far more to him than his gifts as a BeastMaster. There was his deep love for Kyra, which gave him the strength to carry on. But Amerys couldn't learn about love from Kyra, who remained in the crystals of the Ancient One.
Instead, she would learn about love from this extraordinary Terron, Stavros, as the mother goddess had called him. Amerys wasn't aware of making a choice. . .she was simply following her curiosity, as she had countless times during the last several millenia. That was what she told herself, at least. But making a choice she was, a choice that would lead her to the second great rebellion of her life.
And she didn't know it yet, but her rescue of Stavros from the wrath of his king would force him to make choices of his own. Amerys probably could have watched Zad in her scrying bowl, but she didn't feel the need. She was fairly certain she would see him putting the other members of the squad to death. And she had other concerns for now, for the young warrior was slowly awakening.
He moaned and Amerys crouched in front of him, gently caressing his face. Stavros opened his eyes and stared at her blankly. She smiled at him, murmuring, "Hello, Stavros of the Terrons. I am your new teacher . . . and your new student."
"Student? Where am I? How did I get here? Is Gosia all right?" Stavros asked weakly, and Amerys just smiled softly. He had many questions . . . all of which she could answer, but she chose to ask the most important question, the question which would calm him. He would be of no use to her if he turned into a hysterical, blithering idiot.
"Gosia will be safe very soon, I promise. The two boys sent by the BeastMaster are almost to the Terron camp. By the time King Zad returns to the camp, Gosia and the boys will be gone, that much I know. You are in my home, my guest. I brought you here . . . as I said, to be your student and your teacher. Rest now. We have much work to do," Amerys said. She gently waved her hand over his face and Stavros slumped down once more. Amerys observed him, sensing the Ancient One. Well, let him watch. Let him wonder what she planned to do. Let him be the one sometimes feared the future. And let him make his choices, for himself, instead of for her.
End
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