Plans and new rules were set out to help the citizens; elections of civic officers were organized and as time passed, the two realms became prosperous, thriving communities. Wyeth proved to be a wise and just ruler, using the experience and teachings of his close, good friend, Queen Primula and his father-in-law, Haito.

Kysoo was immediately welcomed as Queen of Dramoraine; her unselfish work among the citizens made the acceptance of her race a smooth transition, benefiting both her own people and her newly acquired subjects. In the second year of Wyeth's rule, announcements went out to the surrounding country that the next heir to Dramoraine had been born and that a celebration where all were welcome, would take place in the realm of Dramin.

Primula was elated with the news and hurried from the throne room to her private quarters, jumping and clapping her hands in glee.

"What prompts such a display of joy?"

"This," she exclaimed, dropping the message by the bed as she danced by waving her arms.

"Well, well. I wondered how long it would be before this happened. Seems our young King and Queen have finally forged a permanent bridge between the races."

"More important," Primula pointed out, returning to sit on the edge of the bed, "they have secured the kingdom with a legitimate heir."

"I have a feeling this is going somewhere..."

She rose and went to the window, holding back the drape and staring down into the street. "It has been my hope for some time that it would." Her voice faded to a whisper.

Primula... it's- I'm old enough to be your father." Jak rose from the chair near the bed and crossed the room to stand beside her. "You need a young man as your king who can share the same years with you and sire a child that you both can grow with."

"What nonsense," she snapped, turning from the window and brushing past him. "And who said anything about a king? I am the ruler of Terrault, the sole ruler, until such time as I have an heir."

Jak leaned against the sill and sighed aloud. "I didn't mean that I wanted to be- I didn't- aah Primula..." He crossed the room and picked up the reports he'd brought for discussion. "I guess we should do this another time... and not in your bedroom." His remark brought her head up sharply.

"Yes. I guess having my 'father' in my room does not look well to the citizens." Her voice quavered and he as he turned back he caught her brushing away a tear.

"I'm sorry, Primula." He opened the door and went out.

She threw herself on the bedcovers and pounded tiny fists into the soft down, twisting her head and burying her sobs. After the emotion subsided, she sat up and stared at the door. This was not the behaviour for a Queen. She went to her dressing table and repaired her hair and wiped her eyes then with conviction, she strode to the door and flung it open, quickening her pace and calling after her Captain. Jak paused before exiting to the outer courtyard. His name echoed around the high stone walls accompanied by the slap of boots on the cobbled floor.

"Captain Staff. You will wait right there, I have something to say to you." Primula thudded to a halt in front of him, her chin set in a determined tilt, her eyes blazing. "I don't care about the difference in our ages. I don't care how others might perceive our association. I don't care to spend my days waiting for a younger suitor to share what might be left of them, and I will not- what are you doing?" Jak dropped his reports on the floor and scooped her into his arms, spinning her around and heading back inside the palace. "Captain!"

"Be silent, Primula. I don't care to stand in a public place and listen to you rant on about what you don't care about." He marched through the throne room and into her private quarters, depositing her unceremoniously on the bed. "If what you have just said- " he pushed her back down as she sat up to protest, leaving her with mouth agape at his audacity. "If what you have just finished saying is true, then so be it. I will return here tomorrow with a formal proposal for your hand and we can announce it to the citizenry."

"You can't just bully-"

"Primula, if I am to be your husband, you must learn not to argue with everything I say."

"I am the Que-" Her words were stifled by the kiss she had imagined for years and she felt herself relax in his arms, not wanting it to end. He released her and she sank to the bed exhausted.

"Until tomorrow then...Your Majesty."

"Huh? Uh, yeah... tomorrow."

*****

The celebration in Dramin was a huge success with the two-fold celebration of the birth of Kysoo and Wyeth's child and the marriage of Primula and Jak. People came from Moraine, Terrault, Caval, the village of the Japan people and even the Crofts made the trip, pleased to be welcomed as part of the family and to help celebrate the events. The medallion belonging to Wissom Croft held a place of honour at the head of the baby's cradle. The future was just ahead, as Haito observed to everyone's amusement.

*****

The boat slapped over the waves with a stomach pounding rhythm. In the bow, Elder Stemm and his small group of exiled followers clung to the lines and one another for safety. The shoreline diminished as the wind picked up, snapping the sails and carrying the boat across the wide expanse of water. They stared with concern and doubt at the man handling the tiller, the only man willing to make the journey they required.

Gaspar DeGaul, turned his face to aim his good eye at the bow. It was difficult to handle the boat with his shortcomings. Gaspar muttered to himself in strange sounds, the result of having only half a tongue. His only thoughts were of the Japan men and what they had done to him; a tear found its way out of his eye and rolled down his stubbled cheek. This was to be his future: lashed to the helm of a leaky boat because both arms were crippled.

Propped on a post because both legs were in ruins. One eye. One ear. The tear continued down to his chin and stopped. Gaspar stared bleakly at the rising sea.

I think not, he said to himself, casting a final, disinterested look at his passengers before spinning the helm around and bringing the boat broadside into the waves. He sighed and closed his eyes, listening to the screams from the bow and smiling grimly as the salty water washed over him, capsizing the boat and pushing it beneath the waves.

THE END