Page 26 of Valdemar

The horse grew to enormous size, filling the sky, then faded along with the curtains of light. A streak of red to the east went from north to south, followed by another to the west. Another, closer this time by a mile, and then another even nearer, until finally, the red glowing ball shattered across the Hawkbrothers’ largest shields, illuminating their entire structure to the visible eye for a moment in red embers. The ball careened in a spiraling fall to the east, appearing to drop into the woods across the river, where a slow explosion of red light then bloomed. And then the darkness fell, the night air filled with the sounds of chattering, and the servants came out with mage-lanterns to light everyone to bed.

Kordas and Isla remained where they were, savoring the quiet after what had been a long and strenuous day. Out past the wall, he could hear the celebration still going on, but here, finally, there was darkness and peace.

“I trust you enjoyed our contribution,” said Silvermoon, from behind him.

Kordas had more or less expected this, knowing Silvermoon, so he didn’t jump. “More than I can say. Was the end piece modeled on anything?”

“Actually yes. A pleasant phenomenon associated with not-so-pleasant warped nodes,” said the Hawkbrother, settling cross-legged down on the trampled grass, regardless of his finery. “I’m told there are also lights in the sky like that in the far north in winter. I couldn’t say; I haven’t seen it myself. Well, Kordas, you and Terilee are King and Queen now. Was it so bad?”

“I wish anyone but me was under this crown,” he said honestly. “But . . . no. It was not so bad. In fact . . . it was rather flattering. So now we’ve solved one set of problems, but an entirely new set will spring up in the morning, all because Valdemar now has a King and Queen to place the burden on.”

Silvermoon laughed and shook his head. “You! You are not ‘oh my glass is half full.’ You are not ‘oh, my glass is half empty.’ You are ‘Doom! There is a hole in the bottom of my glass and everything is draining away!’”

Isla added with a grin, “And I am ‘Why was the glass that big to begin with? It’s wasteful! Melt this down to make two smaller glasses!’”

Isla started laughing, and, although he flushed with chagrin, so did Kordas. “You both know me too well.”

“Then take my advice and wait for the problems to come to you, for once.” Silvermoon slapped his knee. “Meanwhile, let us enjoy a brief moment of peace, all the sweeter for knowing that it will be brief.”

“Listen to the man,” Isla chided.

“Yes, dears,” he said, with just a touch of mockery, and sipped his wine.

Because, after all, they were right.