The edge of the world
They were standing on the edge of the world as everything crumbled around them. Darkness had fallen and it stretched out below her feet like a carpet of ink. They were all there, startlingly white – brilliant in the contrast to the darkness. She stood apart from the others (as she always had) and waited with her head held high. They pressed together behind her, confused and unsettled, faced with a concept they knew nothing of, but her mortal memories knew. So she waited. If he were still able he would be here. A shape stepped out of the darkness. It staggered a little as it had once before in the blood red caves below a castle long ago, confused by the mist of magic and flowing blood on his skin. She felt when his eyes alighted on her and her semi-kindred and used their light to guide him. His footsteps no longer faltered. He held his head as high as hers until he was a mere arms breadth away, whereupon he swept off his hat in a bow.
"My Lady."
She gave an amused toss of her head.
"I've been waiting for you Magician."
"You knew I would be here then?" His appearance seemed unchanged since she had seen him last but she was unsure if that was because she saw time differently or because it was ceasing to exist.
"Of course," she replied eventually. "Who else would I watch the end of the world with?"
She felt the air shimmer and she stood on two legs. He should have been startled by the change but everything was almost beyond surprise now. There was a stamping behind them and Schmendrick looked with calmed eyes to the others.
"They are afraid."
"They do not understand," she replied.
In the Darkness she reached out a hand to place on his arm, light as a caress.
"Are you ready?" he whispered as they stared out into the black – an even deeper hue rolling towards them.
Her eyes flickered with a challenge.
"How could I not be?" she murmured and by unspoken consent they strode casually into the oncoming storm.