The Shattered Way (Champions of the Crystal Book 7)

Chapter 26: Journey's End

The night passed uneventfully, except for Sabrina waking in a panic about what to wear. A quick call to Khediva soon settled that, however, and shortly after breakfast they were on their way. Ford's plan to treat the trip as a short honeymoon was foiled by the Continuity Supervisor, who wanted to observe Tirqwin's and Khediva's interactions with Sabrina for himself, to everyone's chagrin.

They were the last to arrive in the Stanosian system; Sabrina stared in shock at the sheer number of Wayships on Khediva's viewscreen, waiting for the others to join her on the control deck. She was wearing her most formal suit in white mourning with her official sash and orders, which Khediva assured her was correct and would make an impression on Homeworld's citizens.

"Are these all the Wayships?" Sabrina asked.

"No," Khediva said. "It is forbidden for the entire population to ever be in the same place and time. These are the Wayships and Tirqwins who knew Sribarak. Members of Sribarak's House will be scattered among them, along with various officials from the Wayfarer program and representatives of Homeworld's government. You will hear some of them speak shortly, after I give the signal that we are ready."

Tirqwin and Horamennet emerged, Tirqwin wearing his ivory suit and Horamennet wearing ivory robes. They joined her in front of the viewscreen.

"There is Asnefer aïé Shahina," Tirqwin murmured to Sabrina, pointing to one of the Wayships nearby.

"Is someone scanning to make sure Malvarak doesn't show up?" Sabrina murmured back.

"Yes, but I think it unlikely. He is almost certainly still trapped on Kuath. Even if he found a way to come back in time somehow, he would know that would result in his certain capture. I do not think he would risk it."

Ford joined them, tugging at the collar of an ivory suit identical to his father's. Sabrina blinked in shock.

"I'm entitled to wear it," he said, a little defensively. "Khediva made it for me. I'm part of the Wayfarer program, remember, if a little irregular."

"I wasn't questioning that."

"You were looking at me funny."

"Sorry." I've seen you in a lot of outfits, but that's the strangest.

Why? You've seen it before.

I think that's just it. It send all kinds of subliminal messages I don't normally associate with you.

Like what?

Sabrina smiled wryly. Unattainable, for one.

He took her hand and pulled her closer for a kiss. I am, for everybody except you.

"We are beginning," Khediva announced.

The viewscreen magnified a part of its former view, showing the battered shell of Sribarak under tow by another Wayship. The alterations made by the Kyan had been removed, and attempts at restoring the hull had been made, Sabrina noticed in surprise.

It's like dressing up a corpse for the funeral, Ford explained. I think it must be the same impulse. Wayfarers pride themselves on being rational, but even they have some superstitions so far back in their culture they can't shake them.

There followed a series of speeches by various dignitaries and a few Tirqwins. When everyone else had finished, Tirqwin told the story of Sribarak's actions on Stanos, ending with, "He saved my life, that of the Guardian, and of the two people who would become my son and daughter. I cannot say that he achieved his aim of saving his Tirqwin Malvarak, though that was not Sribarak's fault. My kinsman's insanity was his own, thereby condemning his Wayship to a fate none of us would wish for. That long, sad journey is now ending. I am privileged to take part in its conclusion, and honored to stand beside my son and daughter who brought his shell home at last. Since it was Malvarak's words that led us to Sribarak's brain, I believe he repented of hiding him for so long in the end, and that this ceremony would have his blessing, could he have attended. I hope this journey's end will also mark the end of my kinsman's suffering and allow him to travel a way that leads to redemption."

Sabrina could only be relieved that, as guests, she and Ford were not expected to speak as part of the ceremony, since her throat was closed with grief. Ford held onto her left hand, giving it a comforting squeeze, as she glanced to her right at Tirqwin. He stared steadily at the viewscreen, his expression closed.

The Wayship towing Sribarak crossed in front of Stanos' sun, passing dangerously close to its gravity well; then it released the grapple and sped away, leaving only the dead Wayship to fall toward the star. Khediva darkened the viewscreen as the sun's glare filled it and Sribarak shrank to a tiny pinpoint.

"Rest at the end of your journey, Wayship Sribarak," Khediva said, so quietly she was barely audible. Ford and Horamennet echoed her; after a pause, so did Tirqwin, his voice cracking. Sabrina reached for his hand and squeezed it, but when he did not grip back, she released it. A second later Tirqwin grabbed her hand and squeezed hard. She glanced at him in surprise and saw a tear making its way down his cheek. Looking quickly away, she was just in time to see Sribarak flare briefly before he was consumed by the star.

Sabrina thought for a moment of what Tirqwin had said on Stanos, that if Khediva had been close enough, she would have descended and been killed, and he would have died along with her. She tried to imagine what her life would have been like if that had happened: Mara mentally crippled, none of her children ever born. No regency, no adoption by Rayland, probably no chance for heroism, only a long and mournful service to a Queen whose grief was unrelenting.

Sribarak didn't do it for you, Sabrina, Ford reminded her, a little alarmed at her grief.

But he made my life, this life, possible. He made you possible. I wish I could have done something for him.

You helped bring him home. He would have been grateful for that.

It doesn't feel like enough. It's a terrible burden to owe your life to someone and not be able to save your rescuer in return.

Save someone else, then. We'll save Malvarak, as he tried to do.

Like anyone on Praxatillus is going to let us anywhere near Kuath.

We don't have to do it personally. We just have to figure out how to make it happen. Set the events in motion. It can be the first thing the new Praxatillus/Homeworld alliance does.

What alliance?

The one we're going to make.

Sabrina marveled at his confidence. It won't be that easy, you know.

Neither was that first peace treaty, but you did it.

Sabrina bit her lip and glanced at him, then at Tirqwin, who still had a tight grip on her hand. "He didn't die in vain. We will make it count for something," she said to him.

"Yes," Tirqwin said, looking at her for the first time since the ceremony began.