Wyrms

Lord Will called out, and his voice could be heard clearly by the soldiers in the front ranks; they passed along his words to those behind. His declaration was simple.

"Here is the daughter of prophecy. By right of blood and prophecy, she is your King. She will not shed one drop of human blood to claim her right. If you refuse her, she will gladly die. If you receive her, she will forgive you."

And when he was sure that every man in Oruc's army had heard his words, he cried:

"Where are the soldiers of Agaranthemem Heptek! Where are the Vigilants of God!"

Oruc's soldiers did not hesitate. Their voices swelled like the rising voice of the wind over the sea, and they threw down their weapons and came to her, crying her name at first, but then changing the cry into the simple chant: "Kristos! Kristos! Kristos!"

Oruc gathered his family about him, preparing to die with courage. But when she had him brought to her, she smiled kindly at him, and he could detect no savagery in her face or vengeance in her voice.

"You stood in a hard place, and did well," she said simply. "I have come as Heptarch of all humankind. I ask you to rule Korfu as my viceroy, a title to be conferred on your heirs as long as one of your blood is found worthy."

He bowed before her then, as she gave his children back to him, and his life, and his kingdom. He ruled as always in King's Hill, and she visited him only once a every year; he served her loyally and well, and she honored him above all other human kings.

But the center of the world was no longer Heptam. It had moved to a new city, only a few days downriver of Cra

Cranwater. The city took the name of the school, and the school was named for the house, and from this new city called Heffiji's House the Gebling King and the Heptarch ruled. This was the place where all the humans and geblings and dwelfs and gaunts of the world looked for justice, for wisdom, for mercy, for peace.

And every year. King Ruin and Agaranthemem Heptek left Heffiji's House and made the voyage up Cranwater to Skyfoot; every year they climbed together to an ice cave at the base of the glacier that roofed the world.

There they sat with Mother Wyrm, and told her all that had happened in the world, and like any other supplicants to that holiest place in all Imakulata, they listened to her wisdom and received her love and joy. So also did their children, and their children's children, through all the ages of the world.