Elven Star – The Death Gate Cycle 2. Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

“You need no weapon against me, my son,” said the lord. “You stand at the Last Gate. Beyond is a new world, one of peace, one of safety. I am its lord. I welcome you.”

The young man had made it to his hands and knees. Swaying weakly, he lifted his head and stared through the Gate. His eyes were glazed, he could see little of the wonders of the world. But a slow smile spread across his face.

“I’ve made it!” he whispered hoarsely, through blood-caked lips. “I’ve beaten them!”

“Such were my words when I stood before this Gate. What are you called?”

The young man swallowed, coughed before he could reply. “Haplo.”

“A fitting name.” The lord put his arms around the young man’s shoulders. “Here, let me help you.”

To the lord’s amazement, Haplo thrust him away. “No. I want to walk . . . through … on my own.”

The lord said nothing, his smile broadened. He rose to his feet and stood aside. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Haplo struggled to stand upright. He paused a moment, swaying with dizziness. The lord, fearing he would fall, took a step forward, but Haplo warded him off with outstretched hand.

“Dog,” he said in a cracked voice. “To me.”

The animal rose weakly and limped over to its master. Haplo placed his hand upon the animal’s head, steadying himself. The dog stood patiently, its eyes fixed upon Haplo.

“Let’s go,” said the young man.

Together, step by faltering step, they walked toward the Gate. The Lord of the Nexus, marveling, came behind. The Patryns on the other side, seeing the young man emerge, did not applaud or cheer, but awarded him respectful silence. None offered to help him, though each saw that every movement caused the young man obvious pain. They all knew what it meant to walk through that last gate by oneself, or aided only by a trusted friend.

Haplo stood in the Nexus, blinking under the dazzling sun. Sighing, he keeled over. The dog, whimpering, licked his master’s face.

Hastening to the young man’s side, the lord knelt down. Haplo was still conscious. The lord took hold of the pale, cold hand.

“Never forget!” whispered the lord, pressing the hand close to his chest.

Haplo looked up at the Lord of the Nexus and grinned. . . .

“Well, dog,” said the Patryn, glancing around, giving his ship one last inspection, “I think we’re ready. How about it, boy? You ready?”

The animal’s ears pricked. It barked once, loudly.

“Good, good. We have My Lord’s blessing and his final instructions. Now, let’s see how this bird flies.”

Reaching out, he held his hands over the steering stone and began to recite the first runes. The stone rose up from the deck, supported by magic, and came to rest beneath Haplo’s palms. Blue light welled up through his fingers, matched by red light glowing from the runes on his hands.

Haplo sent his being into the ship, poured his magic into the hull, felt it seep like blood into the dragonskin sails, carrying life and power to guide and control. His mind lifted and it brought the ship with him. Slowly, the vessel began to rise from the ground.

Guiding it with his eyes, his thoughts, his magic, Haplo set sail into the air, granting the ship more speed than its original builders had ever imagined, and flew up and over the Nexus. Crouched at its master’s feet, the dog sighed and resigned itself to the journey. Perhaps it remembered its first trip through Death’s Gate, a trip that had very nearly proved fatal.

Haplo tested his craft, experimented with it. Flying leisurely over the Nexus, he enjoyed the unusual view of the city from a bird’s eye (or dragon’s eye) vantage.

The Nexus was a remarkable creation, a marvel of construction. Broad, tree-lined boulevards stretched out like spokes of a wheel from a center point to the dimly seen horizon of the far-off Boundary. Fabulous buildings of crystal and marble, steel and granite, adorned the streets. Parks and gardens, lakes and ponds provided places of quiet beauty in which to walk, to think, to reflect. Far away, near the Boundary, stretched green, rolling hills and fields, ready for the planting.

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