billion book
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Part 2
Much of that work was indeed finished by nightfall, and though all were tired and many had not slept for
many hours, they still found the energy to gather for a celebratory founding dance in the hall. They
were joined by seventy-three children who had not been brought along for the constructions to keep
them out from underfoot. All the new children were human except for three elves and one unicorn,
none of whom were allowed to play with young Karzog. As Povon explained, the young dragon only ate
once per week and was due to eat the next day. Until he had eaten, it was unwise to trust him with
other children since he was already almost seven meters long. And after all, he was still an infant.
Karzog didn’t mind. He stuck to Kragorram and Povon like a burr on a sheep, observing everything
carefully. Occasionally one of his adoptive parents leaned down and quietly spoke with him in
Draconian, as discretely as that snarling and growling language allowed.
Mark and Talia took their turns leading the dance; choosing a song and singing it as Mark played the
harp and Talia played a lute, or sometimes a flute. Tables covered with dishes of delicious foods were
arranged near the entrance to the kitchen, and everyone ate their fill.
Almost everyone there stayed in their new homes on Hiliani that night, since exhaustion, magic
depletion, and intoxicating drink and herbs ensured that few were willing to trust their Translocations.
Most went back to their old homes the next morning, to continue with saying farewells and preparing
their affairs for their extended absence.
PART 3
Mark and Talia went back to their routine for the next five days, and concentrated their visits on those
they knew who would not be joining them on Hiliani. It was only a little sad for them to say such
farewells, since everyone they were emotionally close to would be coming with them, with the
exceptions of Tithian, Somonik, and Grakonexikaldoron.
Those three joined them in Hiliani on their last morning in contact with the rest of the world. Many
others were visiting the settlement that morning as well, taking advantage of the last chance to see
loved ones who would not see them for a score of years. All were gathered on the beach, enjoying a
warm and sunny day.
“It’s a strange thing, knowing I will see you in two months, but I will have missed twenty-four years of
your life.” Tithian said as she nuzzled with her daughter and gently rubbed their horns together. Her
deep emotion was well conveyed in her psionic voice. “How much more strange it must be for these
human visitors, who will miss a third of the lives of those they visit.”
“I’m hoping that won’t be the case, actually.” Mark told her. “We’ll be working with Hilsith the Healer and
the other senior wizards while we’re here, to try to extend the youth and lifespans of our human
citizens. We’re hoping we can end the aging process altogether, as is the case with the elves and you
People of Morning. I’m pretty sure we can at least eliminate the aging they’d normally experience in our
score of years here, so the adults shouldn’t be much older physically when we leave than they are right
now.”
He paused and shook his head. “It’s just so unfair that some races are long-lived, and others have such
short lifespans. If we can end aging in humans, we should be able to do it for the rest of the short-lived
races too, once we’re out of here again.”
“A noble goal, to be sure.” Tithian nodded. “I wish you the best of luck in it. As a seer, I have no
indication whether you will succeed or not, more’s the pity. It would be nice to be able to give these
people that assurance.”
“It would, but we can’t have everything, I suppose.” Mark commented as he looked around, and noticed
the arrival of Falgaroth and Visinniria.
“The gods arrive, our time together grows short.” Tithian noted.
“Greetings. I trust that all is ready?” Visinniria asked as they approached.
“It is.” Talia told her. “Except to send our visitors home a minute before the time-bubble is cast. And
good day to you both.”
Falgaroth nodded and shook his long blue mane, waving his horn as he did so. “We will be
Translocating all visitors home in fourteen minutes.” he announced, and was ‘heard’ by everyone there.
“It is much more occupied here than it was.” Somonik observed.
“Yup.” Mark nodded. “We’ve added over a hundred new human citizens, some seventy elves, and three
more unicorns since the first day of building here, and built all their homes. And of course the livestock
pens and shelters and the gardens have helped fill in some of the empty spaces. It’s still a very spread-
out little village, compared to most. I think only the elves build their communities so sparsely, and even
they don’t when the town has more than a few thousand in it.”
“Mind you, it’s still only a bit less than three kilometers from one end of the flats to the other, so no-one
really has to walk very far to get anywhere.” Talia added. “And we brought our yacht for fishing and
getting away from it all. I imagine there’ll be times when such a small community starts to feel a little
close.”
“I love what you’ve done with the streams.” Grakonexikaldoron commented as she looked around. The
four streams that flowed through the flats now meandered around so that they passed through every
household’s property, bordered by banks of lush green short lawn. Artistic and delicate-seeming elven
wooden bridges crossed them every thirty meters or so.
“Thanks. Bezedil directed that, actually, and they grew a lot of underground piping to bring water to
every building. Every building also has an indoor privy, equipped with an elven spell that takes the
water out of the waste so both can be used in the gardens without smelling up the place.
“We’ve made a good study of the needs of isolated communities, and we’re pretty sure we’ve got
everything we could need, including enough books that it would take me the whole score of years to
read them all.”
“You’ve done well, young ones.” Visinniria told him with a smile. “We are proud of you.”
“We will Translocate your visitors home as we leave and cast the time-bubble.” Falgaroth informed
them. “To your senses, all three events will happen simultaneously.
“At the same moment, twenty-six more time-bubbles will be cast by the gods in other locations, as you
suggested. All within are tasked with having children, and with performing research, training, and
construction during their years of isolation. Along with your other tasks here, we charge you with
building the defenses, shelters, and offensive emplacements that will be necessary for Hiliani to prove
its worth in the coming confrontation with the demons.”
“Ah. That’s a good point, if I’ve ever heard one.” Mark nodded. “There’s no use building a wonderful
little outpost of civilization here if it’s just going to be helpless against destruction by the demons.”
“Just so.” Falgaroth nodded in return.
All too soon, the time came. All the farewells had been said, and the visitors gathered together with the
departing gods. They were still waving good-bye to those who were staying when they disappeared.
“The time-bubble is cast.” Quewanak calmly announced, which was useful since there was no
discernable effect of the casting. Nothing seemed different, save that their visitors were gone.
There was a long moment of silence, then Mark shrugged and spoke. “Well that’s that. I guess it’s time
to start settling into our new lives here. We’re going to work on our garden for a while before supper.
“We’ll probably see you all again before Sixthday, but if not, we’ll see you at the dance then.”
With that, he and Talia set off, strolling hand in hand.
He paused to consider their new home as they came close to it, then gently picked her up and cuddled
her as he shared his thoughts.
“You know, this is going be a long vacation from our normal life, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. It feels
like we’ve been on a long vacation for months, and we’re finally coming home.”
“I feel that, a bit.” she revealed with a smile. “Not so much like I’m coming home, but that I’m returning
to the simple life of my childhood, just as my life as an adult is truly beginning.”
“That’s sweet.” he chuckled.
“Thanks. We have just enough time to get the potatoes planted before we have to milk the cow and the
goat. You get the cow.” she told him with a tickle.
He laughed as he carried her inside.