AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kitarak rasped his arms against his thorax in agitation. "I will try to find you something better," he said, "but I will not become a necromancer for your benefit."
"There are plenty of bodies left over from every gladiator game," Yoncalla said, "like that big elf who fought so well. Why didn't you get me a body like his?"
A sudden chill ran down Jedra's spine. "What big elf?" he asked. "Not Sahalik?"
"Was that his name?" Yoncalla said. "I wasn't paying much attention until after I saw how good he was. If he hadn't slipped in a pool of blood, he would probably have won."
Jedra looked to Kitarak. "Was it Sahalik?"
Kitarak nodded his insectile head. "I'm sorry. He fought gloriously, but as Yoncalla said, he slipped, and..."
"And he's dead? Just like that?"
"That is the way of the world," Kitarak said. "At least for now. Perhaps in time, if we succeed in bringing back the riches we once had, we can use these crystals to conquer death for everyone, but unfortunately we were too late for Sahalik."
Jedra sank back to the ground. Sahalik couldn't be dead. He was too mean to die. Mean and cocky and self-confident-and lately, at least to Jedra, compassionate as well. And he was next in line to be chief.
"What about the Jura-Dai?" Jedra asked. "What will become of them?"
Kitarak shook his head. "Life in the desert is unpredictable. They may survive to become a great tribe once again, or they may not, but their story is their own. Our future lies down a different path."
"Does it?" Kayan asked. "And what path is that?"
Kitarak swiveled his head toward her. "Am I making an unwarranted assumption? I had thought that you would join us in our attempt to transform Athas into paradise again. With a little more training, you could be among our most powerful allies yet."
"Could we, now?" Kayan asked teasingly. To Jedra, she mindsent, What do you think? Is that what you want to do?
He could sense her eagerness. She was taunting Kitarak just for the fun of it, but she wanted what he offered. Even though she could retreat to her own private paradise whenever she w
ished, she wanted to bring it about in the real world instead. And so, Jedra realized, did he. He wanted more than just a pretty world; he wanted to upset the system of sorcerer-kings and templars and nobles and the abuse of power that led to slaves and lovers fighting in the gladiatorial arena for others' entertainment. He wanted to build a whole new society where nobody lacked food or shelter, and where everyone had a chance to succeed at whatever they wanted to do.
Sure I want to, he replied. More than anything else. Except spend the rest of my life with you, of course. That could be a long time, if we use these crystals of yours,
I'm sure. He drew her toward him and kissed her. He knew their lives would not be perfect from here on out. Kayan had once told him that there were no happily-ever-afters in this world, and he had seen enough to understand the wisdom in the elves' credo, "Hope for the best but expect the worst, that way all your surprises will be pleasant." But for just an instant as they kissed, there in the desert with their mentor once again at their sides and their future dedicated to a worthy cause, all the cares of the world vanished in an eternal moment of glory.
