Epilogue

Shyne turned the last page. There, staring back at them from beyond time, were the faces of their ancestors. From Kernow Flurrith I, with Zayla and Ziara, to Kernow II and his brother and sister ... the tail male line that produced their grandfather Rhys Flurrith, connected with Nysa to birth their father Muse and uncle Zoryal. Every Flurrith male descended directly from Kernow II with their mates and other offspring ending (or beginning) with their father and mother, Ythé

"Crystal" Shekeira-Flurrith.

She dashed tears that she hadn't known flowed from round grey eyes. Looking up, Shyne noticed that Crystal and Muse had fallen asleep, lulled by their mother's internal heat. Both were immortal, she reasoned, as were Sular and Shyne; ivory blood flowed in their veins, immortality by association with Muse. Baring accident, they would never lose each other.

"Gee, my respect for Mama and Dad only went up," Sular murmured, tracing his namesake's portrait with a careful claw.

"Aye, me too," she replied, casting a fond glance at their folks.

"Perhaps if I had had the courage your parents found, it might have changed things."

The sound of a book hitting the stone floor jolted Muse and Crystal from their light doze. There, shimmering in the magelights of the living room was a shade -- a Glacial-shaped spirit, glowing with acute inner fire.

Muse rose first, taking Crystal's taloned hand in his own. "Grandfather --" he began in awe.

Sular Ventrishika smiled; no longer was there sadness in his grey eyes. Only happiness and light. "Yet again, if I had done the right thing, the Universe might not have known you, grandson."

A second shimmer danced in the flickering coldfire. Ziara Flurrith leaned against her husband's shoulder, all youth and vibrance. She reached out to touch first Muse's cheek, then Crystal's golden one. Her voice was soft, a whisper amongst the air. "We are so very proud of you -- all of you. Through you marks the path to change, and a redemption of a race."

She smiled, and it was easy to see the family resemblance between Muse, Shyne and Sular II. The essence that was Sular Ventrishika inclined his white-crested head again towards Muse. "My thanks, grandson, for clearing my name and setting my family's hearts at ease. Am'nelii Berinshah."

In the blink of an eye, they were gone. Crystal clasped her mate's arm more securely, sitting heavily upon the carpet.

Sular ran a paw through his crest. "Gee, Mama, you and Dad sure know how to make history come alive!"

Shyne threw a pillow at him. In the sibling scuffle that ensued, Muse drew Crystal away ...

In times of truth and in times of sorrow,
remember, thou, there shall always be tomorrow!