---------------------------------------- The Quartz Key Epilogue by Lianne Burwell March 2004 ---------------------------------------- Judas wandered along the edge of the lake, enjoying the warmth of the sun against his face. It was difficult to believe that the light that had once been such a danger to him now embraced him as a lover. Since his reunion with Nemir, all such weaknesses had fallen away for both of them, though Nemir's had been less obvious. The fear and anger that had made him try to drive Judas away time and again was gone, and they had rarely been apart in the days since the battle. Waking in Nemir's arms on the edge of the battlefield had been unnerving. Having both a God and a Goddess standing over them had been even more so. Judas had been full of joy and fear and confusion, all at the same time. But escaping the war intact had been the most important thing. With the aid of Dansen and Markus, they had reached the nearly deserted campsite of the northern army. There they had retrieved his clan's horses that had born them so faithfully, as well as what supplies they could find, before fleeing into the mountains that bordered the plains. Even as the sun set, the battle had raged on behind them. Judas's heart ached for those who were fighting and dying in his name and Nemir's, but they were weak from their ordeal and there was little they could have done to end the battle. Generations of anger and hatred had erupted and nothing would stop it until one side or the other was decimated. In time, the armies would shrink, both from attrition and desertion until neither side had any choice but to retreat. When that time came, then would be the chance to do something about the chaos spreading through what had been the God-King's realm. Unless Nemir decided to seize control, it would probably be years, if not generations, before peace came again to the land along the river, but it would come eventually. Judas trusted in that. Judas knelt next and skimmed his hand across the lake's surface. Ripples made the water chaotic for a moment before settling down to an image. The city of Ajantha had been spared thus far, being so far to the north. When word had reached the city of the God-King's disappearance -- death, they were calling it -- the guard had risen up against Lord Morlan. They had overthrown him and placed the dead Prince's sister on the city's throne. As for Nemir's perfidious cousin, Layla, blood and the fact that Morlan had never wed her had saved her life, but she would never leave the Harem again. She sat there and painted her pictures, mourning her loss of status. At least she still had her life, and even though there had been a time when he'd wanted her dead, Judas could find it in himself to pity her. Judas had thought that perhaps Nemir would want to return to Ajantha once they had recovered from their experiences, but when he had asked, Nemir had shook his head and said that he was no longer needed there. Indeed, his father's sister was doing an excellent job, and fearing the worst, she had already adopted an heir. Nemir's return would only create confusion This was where they were needed. When they had ridden away from the battle, both Judas and Nemir tied to the backs of their horses to keep them from falling, they'd had little thought except of escape. All of them had been exhausted, and both Nemir and Judas had been near death, but staying where they'd been had not been an option. Markus and Dansen had been nursemaids to them as they rode. Judas had given all that he was to heal Nemir from the wounds that he'd unwittingly inflicted on the man, and Nemir had returned the favor over the objection of the Sun God, who had promptly abandoned him. Both of them had needed a safe place to rest and heal, but they had little knowledge of the lands around them, and they could not travel great distances. It was Judas who had remembered the valley of the moon, where the southern armies had gathered. He remembered what he had been told; that only those dedicated to the goddess dared to enter the valley, even though there had been buildings and forage. That made it the ideal place to take refuge. Strong arms tanned dark by the sun came around him and Judas leaned back against the solid bulk of his beloved. "You need to take care," Nemir murmured in his ear. "You may not be vulnerable to it anymore, but even I will burn if I stay in the midday sun for too long." He allowed Nemir to pull him to his feet and they started back towards the temple that was home to them. In the distance, a herd of horses ran across the grass fields at the edge of the valley, Karsa at their head. It was very different from the sands the stallion remembered, but he had adapted quickly, establishing himself as herd stallion of the horses that made the valley their home. The temple that Judas had seen from a distance had turned out to be much more than what he had expected. Large and spacious, it had been a place to live, not just worship. It had been in disrepair, but that had been easy to correct, especially after help had begun to arrive. Around the temple they found the overgrown remains of the gardens and orchards and vineyards that would feed the growing community that made the valley their home. For they had barely settled into their new home when the first newcomers had arrived. Limon, priest-captain of the God-King's guard, his men, and those priests who had traveled with the army had arrived first. They had been followed soon after by the High Priestess of the Goddess, along with her fellow priestesses and their servants. The two groups, former enemies, had made their homes in the two branches of the temple with surprisingly little discord. And with them they had brought much needed tools and supplies. While Judas had not been very surprised by the arrival of the priestesses, they had all been surprised by Limon's arrival, but his explanation had revealed much of the hidden politics of the Kingdom. The previous God-King had sent him to find Nemir, not to bring him back to the capital but to kill him, knowing that he was destined to be the God's next avatar; the same reason why he'd sent soldiers to Ajantha. It was the High Priest of the God who had changed those orders, for his seers had revealed that Nemir would be the God-King who would finally repair the rift between the Sun and the Moon. The High Priest promised, as did the High Priestess, that while the short term would bring chaos, in the long term the rift would have eventually destroyed all. The natural order had been restored for the eventually betterment of the peoples involved. And now the loyal from both sides were coming, collecting around the avatars of the God and Goddess. Judas and Nemir passed through the central portion on their way to the rooms that were their home. Along one side of the wide space were statues and carvings of the Goddess, while the other side was devoted to the God. But on the wall opposite the entrance, the two met in loving embrace. It was through that wall that they came to rooms that had obviously been intended for them. The rooms extended into the cliff behind them temple, but were lit by skylights, melding the temple of the sun, light and airy, and the temple of the moon, deep within the earth's embrace. "What news from the world outside?" Limon asked, appearing from the left, followed by Markus and Dansen. His men were patrolling the edges of the valley, watching for refugee and intruders. There had been few of either. As Chiram had said, the clans did not willingly enter the valley, even though they had to know that it was inhabited again. Judas glanced briefly to Nemir before answering; despite everything, he still was not sure of the handsome man, but Nemir seemed to trust him. "The last survivors have made their way home," he told the man. "But word has traveled even faster. City soldiers have started fighting in small skirmishes over territory, but little more." Limon nodded. "It will get worse before things improve, but in a year or two things will begin to balance out once more." "And then the avatars will return to the lands as teachers, not rulers," the High Priestess said from behind them. Nemir's arm tightened around Judas's shoulders, but his voice was calm as he answered. "When the time is right," he said, and for a moment his voice seemed to echo in the space. Then Nemir and Judas continued on to their chamber. It was nothing like the luxury of the temples they had known, but they had made it home. Judas followed willingly as Nemir drew him down onto their bed of a mattress filled with sweet grass and covered with woolen blankets. No silks or linens here, but Judas did not miss them. Judas opened up willingly to Nemir as his beloved kissed him. With everything that had happened to them, all that they had been through, this was the greatest gift. The chance to be together, to find comfort in each other's arms. To know that whatever was to come, they would face it together. >>>~~~<<< As they slept away the hottest part of the day, in his dreams Judas traveled deep within the cool embrace of the earth. Once more he found himself standing in front of the gates to the Lady's home. The silver dome of the moon glowed softly above them. "Where are we?" Nemir asked, and Judas was unsurprised to find his lover by his side. "Home," Judas said. He pulled the quartz key from its cord around his neck and reached up to press it into place. Nemir reached out and touched the stone lightly with his finger, a expression of confusion on his face. Immediately, light flared until they both had to shield their eyes. When it was safe to look again, they saw that the key had become a seamless part of the now open gate. There was a low rumble, and stone began to fall from the roof of the cavern far above. A single beam of sunlight came through the new opening, and the silver dome became colored with shades of gold, and in the distance they heard a woman's voice say, "Come home, my love." They did not hear if there was an answer, but holding hands, they knew that it would come someday. A warmth filled their hearts. The two halves would be reunited. How could it be any other way? END THE QUARTZ KEY