Darda’Gu had returned to the bench beside Naiya’Nal’s statue after the dragon carried King Belgrave into the clouds. She sat down and looked at the ring that she had taken from the hand of her sister. The sun, surrounded by the two moons seemed to glow with an inner light under the dimness of the clouds. The tears in her eyes blurred her vision as she looked at the ring, a symbol of hope in a hopeless world. The ring suddenly began to shine brighter. For a moment, she stared in wonder and then realized that it was actually the reflection of the sun above her. She looked up into the dazzling brightness as the dark cloud pulled away.
Huvttiuq also watched in disbelief as the power of the Dark Wizard crumbled. His enemy and the Dark Witch that commanded him had both been correct. Prophecy was real and not even the power of Voth had been able to escape its fulfillment. He lowered his head. The next few months would be difficult, and even then, he knew that he would be lucky if he could persuade the rest of the world to show mercy to his race.
Everyone in the near vicinity of the Dark Wizard’s fortress noticed the instant the clouds began to dissipate, moving outward from the tower. Everyone looked up at the top of the tower as the clouds pulled away and knew that the Dark Wizard’s power was finally ending. Lugar was standing in the center of the causeway and turned to see the bright sun become visible in the sky. The other Barbidons started cheering.
A bright flickering of light caused by the reflection of the sun on a thousand tiny shards of glass announced that the end had not quite come. Three bodies so far away and high in the sky that they were barely visible were falling from the top of the tower. The cheering Barbidons were suddenly silent as they realized that one of the figures had to be King Belgrave. After several long seconds, they had fallen half distance to the lake and flames spread around the falling bodies, hiding them from view. Just a few seconds before the fireball would have reached the frozen lake, everything disappeared in a bright flash, and only a small, blackened mass remained, leaving behind a thin trail of dark smoke as it fell to the lake.
To the southeast, in Panei, King Anou and Queen Desi’Rel sat on the western shore of the Island of Kimb. They had been constantly watching for any sign of King Belgrave’s actions in Sarda ever since the large bird had carried him away nine days before. They both saw the first rays of sunshine brighten the western cliffs. The cloud was disappearing and soon the sun was warming the late autumn air. The many others stuck on the Island of Kimb began to cheer. Commander Sidrahkir walked up beside them, gazing up at the sky in amazement. Tears began to flow down Queen Desi’Rel’s face and she grabbed King Anou’s hand. “King Belgrave,” she choked, “he has saved us!”
King Anou pulled her closer with no regard for his injuries. “The prophecies have all been fulfilled and the war is over. The end has come and now our world has a new beginning.”
“Do you think that King Belgrave will return?” Queen Desi’Rel asked.
“I don’t know,” Commander Sidrahkir answered. “All I can say is that he is with Naiya’Nal and they are both happy.” He sat down, closed his eyes, and leaned back. “Make the most of this moment,” he advised. “We will never experience another day like this in our lifetime.”
The End!