Chapter 4.

  In the span of two months, the Senate had completely tarnished their reputation. They had started taxing everyone, and there were several riots over this. To make things worse, they had imprisoned several members of our settlement and practically left them for dead. Hearing these things broke my heart. I wanted to get out there and help my people, but I was told time and again that it wasn’t the time. Nanny Layai did her best to ease my worries, but there was nothing anyone could do to alleviate my concerns. Another week had passed, and I heard that the Senate had started to turn on each other, actively assassinating each other or going into hiding to avoid the carnage.

  Rays took this opportunity to start another riot. This time he planned the entire event and took advantage of the Senate’s divided forces. I was then brought out of hiding, and I was escorted to the palace. When I finally arrived, the remaining members of the Senate were in chains. I sighed when I saw them; they were incredibly pitiful. Many of my subjects asked for an execution.

  I thought of something better: an execution would be too easy. These fairies were old; they couldn’t fend for themselves, so I banished them. Knowing them, they wouldn’t last long; as for the soldiers that served under the Senate, they were all incredibly corrupt. I then used my parasol to use a spell that would make them regress into faerie bulbs.

  My subjects cheered for my return to power. I simply smiled and undid all of the Senate’s laws. As for the members of the Senate that went into hiding, they actively apologized and swore loyalty to me. They then tried to get in my good graces. I felt nothing for them, so I let my subjects decide their fate: either they would be banished or they would regress into Faerie Bulbs.

  The vote was unanimous, and the remaining members of the Senate were banished. The Senate tower was converted into a beehive. This would allow us to have another source of food as well as a new ally. We searched high and low for a roaming queen bee, and soon we had found one. We offered her shelter and security in return for honey, and she agreed to our terms, and soon Valisa, a young queen bee, was a member of our settlement.

  My palace had to be restored from the damage the Senate had done to it, and there was the matter of redistributing the food that the Senate had stowed away. It was truly an ordeal for everyone, but I refused to sit idle at this time. I actively helped with the restoration, and it was grueling. Many of the architects laughed at me, saying that I was too delicate for such work. This only bolstered my resolve. I got right back up and began to work even harder, earning the respect of the architects. Within the span of 5 months, the palace was looking better than ever.

  We were able to build a new Faery Dome in the back of the Palace. Maia appointed a young faerie midwife named Ecalon to this new dome. I used it quite frequently, but I did still visit Maia’s faery dome every now and then. In the Palace’s Faery dome, the oddest thing had happened: I had somehow produced two more Sovereign Faerie Bulbs. This was considered a miracle among my kind, and for safety reasons we kept these two bulbs a secret from the public.

  Once everything had settled down, I was once again bound to my strict schedule, but I was able to act freely without the Senate judging my every action. It became quite refreshing. Soon I was able to dress in my normal attire as I did when my mother was still alive. Everyone welcomed my new attire, commenting that I looked happier than ever, and I was able to be myself, and the entire clan seemed more upbeat.

  The Arcus Stella clan soon began to shine like the sun, but with all this happiness we didn’t notice another problem lying under the surface because the river that flowed through our domain dried up, and our forest began to wither. When we discovered this, we began to douse for other possible water sources. There was none fearing the worst; I was considering moving the clan, but Rays pointed out that there was a mountain to the west of us. I knew what he was getting at: the possibility of Dwarves residing in that mountain was a gamble I was willing to take. The Dwarves are known for forging items of incredible power; they can solve almost any problem.

  I sent a team of scouts to investigate the mountain; meanwhile, I was busy sorting out our supply of water. You see, for us Arcai Faeries, water is used for more than quenching thirst; we also use water to supply Faery Domes with water to support the lives within the Faery Bulbs they require. Purified water in order to grow to their full glory in time, the water of a Faery Dome becomes impure, so we refill it with fresh water from time to time. Normally we would utilize the power of a gem with purifying capabilities to make this problem easier, but I’m sad to say my mother and I never saw the need of doing so due to our spring.

  I am now paying for that oversight, so right now a large portion of our water reserves is going to the Faery Domes, and what is left is going to the general public. I fear the future scorn from my subjects because I am sure they will grow discontent, so that is why, in case there are no Dwarves, I will have the Gnomes dig for a hidden source of water.

  In three days the gnomes are brought before me, and I tell them about my people's plight. The Gnomes think for a moment before suggesting the use of invoked Sapphire Gems, but they warn that the water that they’ll produce will only be a small fraction of what we need, even if they use all the Sapphires in their possession.

  I let out a soft sigh. If that is all they can do, then I will accept. I tell the gnomes to construct a fountain right away; in exchange for their services, I will offer them anything within my settlement. The Gnomes gleefully chuckle, stating that they will do it for free, and I am incredibly thankful. Soon they take their leave, and the next day the scouts return with news.

  They state that there is in fact a Dwarven settlement. I smile, thanking the gods for this stroke of good fortune. I then make preparations to leave for the settlement. Leaving Rays in charge with a team of three knights and a single Faerie Cavalier at my side, we travel for six days to reach the mountain. Following the map the scouts made, we find an entrance to the Dwarven settlement, and we are welcomed warmly by the current Judge of the Settlement; his name is Thengrin.

  Judge Thengrin: “Ah, an Arcai Faerie. Hmm, that explains the size of those scouts from earlier. What brings you here, my friend?”

  Esteria: “Judge Thengrin, I have come asking for your aid. The forest where my clan resides is withering due to the spring running dry. We were hoping you could help us somehow.”

  Judge Thengrin: “So you wish to go against the will of nature. Hmm, sadly I must decline. If nature dictates that your forest is to wither, then so shall it be.”

  Esteria: “I had a feeling you might say that you Dwarfs are strict followers of Nature’s laws, but what if I offered you something so great that you would have to say yes?”

  Judge Thengrin: “I am quite sure you have nothing of that great a value.”

  I took a pair of scissors from my pocket, and I cut a lock of my hair and held it out towards the judge.

  Judge Thengrin: “Are you doing what I think you're doing...?”

  Esteria: “Yes, I am a faerie. Hair is highly valued for its capabilities in alchemy, but cutting it is the greatest Faerie taboo, but it is the only thing I have to offer that is truly that great.

  I would then proceed to cut my hair until it was incredibly short. I then offered my hair to Judge Thengrin, who took it and inspected its quality. He then turned to me and said,

  Judge Thengrin: This is truly a worthy offering. We will, in fact, aid you. Please wait here for just a moment.

  I then went over to my group; they all looked at me in disbelief, and I just silently cried. I cut my hair, my sweet, sweet hair. I felt so ugly and dirty right now. It took an hour, but Judge Thengrin would return. He placed a large, skinny vase beside us. I was curious how this would help, but Judge Thengrin recited a spell, and the vase shrunk down to a size where I could hold it. The vase was decorated with paintings of snow and ice. I held it in my hands, and Judge Thengrin took a breath and said

  Judge Thengrin: “Now then, you're familiar with the Lake Burst spell, correct, young Sovereign?”

  I nodded my head and answered, saying

  Esteria: “Yes, I am Lake Burst. It will only work if there is already an existing source of water, and if the source dries up, then the newly created lake dries up as well.”

  Judge Thengrin: “Exactly. This vase is known as the Snow Spring Reservoir. It was crafted using ice magic. It never runs out of ice-cold water and serves as a limitless source of water. If a geomancer were to use the Lake Burst spell, then you would never run out of water.”

  I smiled and thanked Judge Thengrin, and soon my escorts led me back to our settlement. When they saw my hair, everyone was horrified, and I couldn’t blame them, but I explained everything to them, and in their eyes, I was even more inspiring. I soon sent geomancers out to create more Lake Bursts around the forest, and after a series of small quakes, the drought had ended, and we were safe.

  Our clan safe I sat upon the throne happily; my hair was gone, along with my pride. This would greatly weaken my resolve. I now see why faeries are not allowed to cut their hair; the harmful effects are incredibly damning.

  After a number of years, the first sovereign Faerie Bulb in Maia’s care blossomed, and to everyone’s surprise, this Sovereign was a boy. When news of this traveled through the settlement, confusion took root in their minds since time immemorial; all Sovereigns have been female, but then again, this young Sovereign was not born through natural means, but that bit of information remained secret for the safety of the Sovereign himself.

  I decided to name this child Jezon, and he was put in my care. This child would soon grow into my possible successor. I would raise him to be kind as my mother did for me.

  Soon young Jezon had stolen my heart. He was so full of life; it was incredibly refreshing. Sweet Jezon became my shining light, fighting the growing darkness within my mind. Everything seems so bright, and Maia is teaching me how to tend to his needs, and I'm getting better and better. Currently, little Jezon sleeps with me in my bed; he clings to me late at night. It’s incredibly sweet.

  I start every morning by feeding Jezon a bottle of spider milk with honey extract. After that, I spend a little time with my sweet Jezon before entrusting him to Nanny Layai. After that, I proceed with my day. I decide to do something different: I go to the Beastmaster, and I ask for a steed. The Beastmaster shows me all the available mounts. There is only one that I am interested in; it is a Concordia Hare. As I said before, Concordia Hares choose their riders, so I approach all the Hares in the stable. Eventually, one of them walks up to me. I smile gently and let him sniff my hand. The hare slowly begins to nuzzle into my hand. I think I’ve been chosen. I then have a saddle harnessed, and I then name my new friend Adono, and I ride him around the settlement. Adono seems to enjoy the stroll.

  Soon we return to the palace, and Adono is taken to the stables. I was then reunited with Jezon, and I spent time with my sweet, sweet child. As Jezon and I are cuddling in the garden, Rays comes in and tells me that we are being visited by an emissary from another clan.

  I’m curious to hear this, and I tell Rays to send this emissary to my meeting room. Handing Jezon to Nanny Layai, I would then meet with the emissary. They had cyan blue skin and bright green hair; his eyes were a deep blue, and he was garbed in clothing with frog designs on it.

  Emissary: “Greetings, my fellow Arcai. I am Splash, an emissary of the Frog Song Clan.”

  Esteria: “I’m happy to make your acquaintance, Splash. Is your clan nearby?”

  Emissary Splash: “Yes, we are currently setting up a settlement near the lake a ways off. Our Sovereign detected your Clan with her relic, the Hawk Eye, and we wanted to make our presence known. We are hoping to be the best of neighbors.”

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Esteria: I see. I would love that, though I have to say your presence would have been greatly appreciated sooner. Am I to guess by your attire and skin that your clan is aligned with the Water element?”

  Emissary Splash: “Yes, we are, in fact, water Arcai Faeries. We live in the bottom of the lake with our prized companions, frogs.”

  Esteria: “I see. Well, hopefully this can be the beginning of an incredibly strong relationship. Please tell your sovereign that I am willing to form an alliance with her.”

  Emissary Splash: “Thank you, your grace, but may I have your name to take back to my sovereign?”

  Esteria: “My name is Esteria, Sovereign of the Arcus Stella Clan.”

  Emissary Splash: “Thank you, your grace.”

  Splash soon took his leave. I was excited to gain a new ally, and water Arcai faeries are incredibly good company to keep around. They are very go with the flow and calm. Rays was excited as well, though we both agreed that they could have shown up earlier and helped us with our drought.

  As I was about to go back to Jezon Rays, he told me that there was some business I needed to do. I let out a soft sigh and left to handle it. Apparently, a young Faerie was turning 12 years old, and his deepest wish was to be visited by the Sovereign. I couldn’t help but smile. I came to the little one's home, and I saw the biggest smile on her face. She then showed me her room, and she shared her dream of becoming a knight. I told her that if she tries hard, she will be the greatest knight ever.

  I spent so much time there, and we had so much fun. Soon the small Faery child fell asleep. I spoke with her parents, and they were incredibly happy I could come. I was happy as well; it felt good to fulfill the dreams of a child. I then made my way back to the palace. ?

  I then found Jezon resting in my bed. I then got into my nightclothes and snuggled my child in my arms. I then had a dream I was in a field of flowers, and there were three hawks circling above me. I stood completely still and tried to take cover from them. Then it happened: all three hawks began to swoop down at me. I evaded them, but they had completely destroyed the flowers.

  I started to hyperventilate, but then the three hawks came at me again. This time they surrounded me and just loomed over me. Then one hawk grabbed my left hand, another grabbed my head, and the final one grabbed my legs. They all yanked in different directions, and their talons dug into my skin.

  I woke up at 5 am drenched in sweat. I took a few deep breaths and looked down at my son. He was sleeping peacefully, but I can’t help but think that dream was about him somehow. As I was getting Jezon ready for the day, that dream loomed in my mind. I tried to push it aside, but it became harder and harder as the day went on.

  I would then hear word from Ecalon that the other two Sovereign Seed Bulbs were almost ready to bloom as well. This was a little stressful for me. I tried my best to relax with Jezon in my care, but I did wonder if my mother had the same issues. She never told me about the Sovereigns she birthed. I’m sure if I venture into the Archive, I can find some information about them, but I’m sure I’m not the only Sovereign my mother fostered.

  As I was feeding Jezon his lunch, Rays came in. He was reminding me of today’s task; it was going to take all day. Nanny Layai gently took Jezon from me, and I kissed his head. I then followed Rays to today's task. It then dawned on me that today was the night of the first frost moon, meaning winter was on its way, meaning food sources become scarce. Valisa is still setting up her colony. We would need to support her, and we would need to make some of our food supply into preservatives. This was going to be a long day.

  But it also meant the winter solstice and a time of togetherness and bonding, so there was a good and a bad. I was led out of the palace, and I felt the cold wind blow. Yep, the chill is coming. Rays took me to the plaza, and I took a deep breath and addressed the crowd.

  Esteria: Greetings, my subjects. Today marks the beginning of the Frost Moon season, meaning we’ll need to band together more than ever this season. First off, the Farmer’s Society will need to bring in their harvests as well as find time to convert a portion of our crops into preservatives. We will also be losing our mounts, as a majority of them will either be hibernating or migrating to warmer pastures. We will also need to gather resources for firewood, medicine, and so on, but all of this hard work will be paying off when the Solstice comes around and we all gather, sing carols, and share gifts with one another. But as I have mentioned before, we all need to work together; that means no hoarding, but with all that said, let’s make this a Frost Moon season to remember.

  Everyone cheered as they continued on their way. I met with the leader of the Farmer’s Society. He was a muscular elderly Faery wearing orange and green robes. He removed his hood to reveal his divine face. He bowed before me and said,

  Egala: “My Sovereign, I’m glad to see you. I am Egala; I manage the Farmer’s Society. I am glad to say that I will work as hard as ever to make this Frost Moon season the most prosperous.“

  Esteria: “I certainly hope so, Egala. Your group has the most important task of them all.”

  Egala: “My Sovereign, I am one of the few remaining members of your mother’s generation. I served her dutifully, and you have my word that I will also serve you as well.”

  Esteria: “Speaking of my mother, I was about to head to the archives to find something out, but maybe you can help me.”

  Egala: “Whatever you need, my sovereign, I’m sure I can help. Now what do you need?”

  Esteria: “I was wondering if my mother raised any other Sovereigns. I don’t recall her mentioning any others, and I was just curious.”

  Egala’s face turned as pale as night; it was as if my question frightened him to his very core.

  Egala: “My Sovereign, if I may be honest, your mother did raise other Sovereigns, but they are not listed in our archives; they are listed in your mother’s memoir, and I must say the memoir has been hidden, and so few know about its existence.”

  Esteria: “Why would my mother’s memoir be hidden? Egala, is there something you're not telling me?”

  Egala: “I swear to you, my Sovereign, I am only thinking of your best interest, and it’s for the better that the memoir stay hidden.”

  Egala then left back to the Farmer Society’s headquarters, and I was even more confused from what I heard about my mother. She was wonderful, beloved; even then, why wasn’t anyone talking about her? I took a deep breath and made my way to Maia’s Faery Dome.

  I walked inside and saw that Maia was busy tending to the bulbs. I watch on in amazement at how delicate she is with them. I then move to the market; I pay for the last honey and spider milk cake, and it tastes heavenly. I then return to the palace. When I get inside, I walk to my room; I hear Jezon’s laughter from the balcony, and when I get out there, I see Nanny Layai playing with him. The two are an incredibly cute sight; it honestly warms my heart.

  I soon come over, and Jezon sees me; he then lets out a happy, loud squeal. He then begins to reach out to me; I hold my little one in my arms, and I kiss his head. My sweet little prince nuzzles into me as I take him inside. I then begin to spoil him rotten, my sweet little Jezon.

  In two weeks my clan was buffeted by snow and ice. We were processing the last of the resources we had collected, and we had barred the entrance to the settlement mainly to keep everyone safe inside. I might add that we had a hard time keeping the snow off our buildings and streets. We are small, so we need to work extra hard to keep the snow at bay. The faeries with the fire element worked around the clock to melt the snow.

  Eventually we created special braziers that gave off a warm aura, keeping the snow and ice at bay. We had to carve holes in our frozen-over lakes to get water. Besides that, everything was going well. We were also preparing the plaza for the upcoming Solstice. It was going to be a wonderful time.

  But with most of our offensive mounts temporarily out of commission, we could only rely on the Faerie Maidens. They are a sect within the Faerie Cavaliers that use support magic. They are clothed in white and soft pink armor with long, flowing skirts. They are healers and menders at heart, but on occasion they will use their magic to weaken or disorient oncoming enemies. They will be acting as the main patrol force for the Clan. Currently, I am inside the Palace’s Faery Dome creating a new patch of bulbs. I hear that all of my bulbs went to good homes, and I wish I could just see them just once.

  I then rose from the pool and stretched my wings. I then returned to my son; he was happily sleeping away in his crib. Beside him were his two younger sisters, Belsa and Wendalia. I do so wonder what the future held for these three. I stepped out onto my balcony and looked down at the plaza. They were still preparing for the Frost Moon Solstice. I thought it was going great; in fact, I was sure it was.

  But then a fierce blizzard began to rear its ugly head. Our braziers were no match for such strong and harsh winds. It was crippling. We were all bound to our homes, and though we tried our best to distribute rations and food to everyone, for some it was far too late; for others,

  We never got to celebrate the Frost Moon Solstice, and my clan’s population had shrunk greatly. When winter had passed us, we began to dig a way out of our homes. We then held a memorial service for those who had lost their lives. It wasn’t pretty; for the first time, I felt scorn from my subjects. It wasn’t a heavy scorn, but I could tell they did hate me.

  With spring under way, we began to plant new gardens for future food harvests. We also began to wake our hibernating mounts. We then began to clear more snow away from our homes, and we dismantled our braziers so we could ready them for the next winter season. I was then informed of the Rite of Spring. This was a rite I was more than happy to perform. Performing the Rite of Spring was a chance for everyone to relax.

  The Rite of Spring is considered by some to be a ritual of luck; performing it in the right way would ensure good fortune for my clan, and it would create a beacon of hope in my subject’s hearts, so preparations were going to be put into place so I could perform the Rite of Spring. Rays told me proportions could be completed in two days time. I then told Rays that the discontent within my subject’s heart needed to be addressed.

  So I flew out to the Plaza Parasol in hand, and I spoke up and said

  Esteria: “My friends, I know this winter season has been hard on all of us. We have all lost someone important to the frigid cold and my lack of leadership, but to ensure the gods of luck smile upon us all, I offer this, the Rite of Spring. I shall perform it now, right here in the plaza.”

  With no music or even my best gown, I opened my parasol and began to dance. It was slow and uncoordinated at first, but soon musicians began to join in, and with the aid of their music, my dance became more organized. I was solely focused on the right; nothing else mattered at this key point. Performing the rite mattered the most to me.

  As I danced, things seemed to be getting easier; my body was beginning to radiate a soft light. I could feel it surging within my breast; it was hope. I didn’t know how long I had been dancing for, but it was enough to make my feet hurt. I soon fell to the ground panting. When I had opened my eyes, I saw my entire clan; they were cheering. It would seem I was able to light that spark. Many of my subjects came to me and actively complimented me, and I couldn’t help but smile.

  I was helped to my feet by Rays. I was then laid in bed with my three children. The next few years were uneventful. We did our best to survive, negotiating with the Basilisk Gnomes and Frog Song Clan, and of course my children were preparing for the day when they must create Clans on their own, though one of them will have to stay to take my role.

  In all confidence, I hope Jezon will take my role. He’s the first male sovereign to be born in centuries, and his magical prowess is unmatched even by his sisters, and in all honesty, that frightens me. His powers far surpass my own, even at his young age, and worst of all, I think he knows this, but thankfully he’s incredibly kind and considerate. He has no ill intent; at least I think he doesn’t.

  I take my children with me when I do my tasks so they can get a better understanding of my work. They all seem to enjoy the idea of becoming a Sovereign; they have all gained delusions of grandeur, but the title of Sovereign is not all fun and games. When you truly think about it, half your clan is expendable; so long as the Sovereign survives, then there is still hope for a clan.

  All three of my children believe they can do no wrong, like it will come so easily to them. I must burst that bubble if they are to succeed in this life.

  I gave each of my children a challenge: they needed to keep a flower alive. I told each of them that this flower represents the future of their clans. Jezon Besla and Wendalia thought this would be easy; they quickly tried to use magic to preserve their plants, but little did they know I chose these plants knowing they had high magical resistance.

  I watched on as each of my children struggled to keep their plants alive. Jezon became the most upset, mainly because this was the first problem he couldn’t solve with magic. My daughters Wendalia and Besla were each very devoted to the task of keeping their plant alive, and though this was an independent exercise, I chose to help each of my children.

  Besla was applying too much water, and I gave her some advice. Wendalia was being a little too rough with her plant, so I helped her gain a gentle touch. Then I came to Jezon; I sat down with him and explained that while magic can make life easier, it shouldn’t be used as the answer to everything.

  Jezon took my words to heart, and he began to embrace the idea of hard work. I didn’t give them another moment of help; I simply watched from the sidelines, and I am proud of what I saw: each of my children nurtured their plant to maturity, and each of them became beautiful. I was so proud of them, and from that day onwards, each of my children took an active role in the settlement.

  Jezon studied with the Royal Mages and the Faerie Knights, gaining combat training and tempering his magical abilities; meanwhile, Besla spent her time with the Faerie Rangers and fell in love with all forms of nature; she even adopted a fox as her mount.

  Wendalia chose to become a scholar and spent most of her time in the Archive learning all the secrets of the prior generations; meanwhile, I had brought another Sovereign Faerie Bulb into the world. The Clan was once again abuzz with excitement.

  And my other three children were excited as well. I couldn’t blame them; this was a whole new experience for me. Honestly, after a few months, Jezon went through a very important milestone in an Arcai Faerie’s life. We call it a blossoming. Basically, it’s our version of puberty.

  Jezon came to me worried, mainly because he felt this strange feeling, and I hate to say it, but I laughed, mainly because my mother did the same thing when I told her the same thing.

  I sat down with Jezon and explained to him that he was now ready to become a Sovereign, and he was incredibly confused, so I told him that he would be able to create Faerie Bulbs.

  Jezon: ... I don’t think I’m ready for this.

  I chuckled even more. I then placed a hand on his shoulder and held him close, saying

  Esteria: Listen to me. Jezon, I know this is scary; I felt the same way, but since you’ve blossomed, that means that your life is just beginning, and I know you're going to do great things.

  Jezon: Mother, how do you know?

  Esteria: Because you're my son, and I believe in you with all my heart.

  Jezon then hugged me close. For the following months, I trained Jezon personally. The goal was to prepare him for any possible outcome. I had to get his sisters involved as well, mainly because I felt like my time was coming to an end. I kept it to myself, but I could feel myself getting weaker and weaker. Still, I continued.

  It eventually happened. 15 years later I became barren. Ecalon eventually had to help me to my room in time; I could barely walk or fly. I needed a wheelchair. My youngest child, Verilla, stayed by my side the whole time. She hasn’t blossomed yet; she is still only a child.

  But she is such a lovely child, so pure and sweet. She has some talent with songcraft; her songs can cause miracles to happen. Others have seen it.

  The next day soon arrives, and Rays helps me into a dreaded ballroom gown. I have to wear this because now I have to crown my successor with Rays. He pushed me to the steeple, and the entire settlement is gathered for this day. When the door opens, everyone rises, and I wave as I’m pushed to the front of the room where my three children stand awaiting my choice. Once I am in the front of the room, everyone sits down, and I speak.

  Esteria: Greetings, my children. We are here today to bear witness to a most wonderful occasion. Today I shall choose my successor. Now, this event is much different than the other events of the past. We have three heirs: Besla, Wendalia, and Jezon. One of them will be your new sovereign, while the others will start a new colony with their own customs. But this tradition is not strict; our customs are fluid and allow for change, so my children are free to join together and create a super colony if they so wish. The choice is theirs, but as for my successor,

  Esteria: I cannot decide.

  The entire steeple let out a gasp, and so did my children. I then turned to face them, saying

  Esteria: My darling children, each of you has the potential to guide this colony to greatness. This is a decision I refuse to make, so I want you each to go in the back room and contemplate your options. The future belongs to each of you.

  Taking my words to heart Wendalia Besla and Jezon went into the back room and began to think; meanwhile, I sat back in my wheelchair and closed my eyes for the final time. I died at that very moment; a tear escaped my left eye. I so desperately wanted to see the future each of my children would bring, but fate had other plans. I did so much good for my clan, and I can say this: I have no regrets.

  The End