“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Perhaps the grandson would realize such a terrible story is a blessing.” Softly he said, “It would mean he doesn’t carry the blood of the monster who drained his life for so many years.”
Mel wiped away a tear on her cheek. “That is a gift.”
“When I thought you had died—” Incredibly, his voice shook. “I realized how little anything else meant.” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “It is time to let go of Stonebreaker.”
“Yes.” Her voice broke on the word. “It’s time.”
They sat looking across the Rocklands, east to Taka Mal, west to Aronsdale and Harsdown, and the Misted Cliffs beyond. Toward the future. The daughter of a farm girl and the son of a stable hand, the grandson of a valet: Together, they had come to rule the largest empire ever established in the settled lands.
Epilogue
On a bright winter day in Quaaz, the people gathered in a grand plaza, below a balcony of the Topaz Palace. It was a cool day, at least for Taka Mal, enough so that some of the hundreds who crammed the plaza wore shirts under their tunics. The sun shone in the sky, and musicians played rollicking tunes. Street vendors circulated with delicacies imported from Aronsdale.
The queen appeared with her consort, that golden prince the people found so easy to love, with his quick grin, his music, and his lively charm. The queen stood tall, a dark-haired beauty in topaz silks. She cradled in her arms the baby her people had come to see, just born the day before. Vizarana Jade held up her daughter and her heir, and the people cheered.
Drummer held a cube in his hand. No one could see; indeed, it looked as if he were simply standing with his wife and child, beaming. But topaz light surrounded him and spread to his family. A luminous dragon rose into the sky, breathing golden light, and the people roared their approval. The Dragon-Sun had blessed the birth.
So the heir to the Topaz Throne came into the world, loved by her parents and celebrated by her people.
On a bright winter day in the Misted Cliffs, snow lay thick on the land, glistening and white. People gathered before their hearths while outside their homes, lakes and rivers froze. The sun shone in a crystalline blue sky, and icicles hung from eaves.
In the Diamond Palace, in the royal suite, the Empress and Emperor sat on their bed. Mel cradled her infant son, and Cobalt leaned next to her. So she offered him the baby. Uncertain and more careful than he had ever been in his life, he took the tiny boy into his huge arms and held him with wonder.
This child would be heir to the Sapphire, Jaguar, Alzire, Blueshire, and Onyx Thrones. His mother was the most powerful mage in the settled lands, a war mage as well as a healer. His father was a warrior of such ferocity, many believed him a warlock. What Mel and Cobalt bequeathed to their child, only time would tell. For now, they quietly rejoiced for the health and strength of their young son.
Finally Cobalt Escar Chamberlight put to rest the demons that had haunted his soul.
THE DAWN STAR
ISBN: 978-1-4268-0620-9
Copyright © 2006 by Catherine Asaro
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Worldwide Library, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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Catherine Asaro, The Dawn Star
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