Disclaimer: All chapters bare the following disclaimer, all characters and places recognized belong to Tamora Pierce. The songs used for this story all belong to the band Muse.


Maggur had held all of his hopes in crushing the Tortallan force in one final blow. The largest army that he could create was sent south in hopes of the final crushing blow to his enemy. However he had been driven mad by power and fear. He knew that unless his armies defeated the southern army that he would be over thrown. He had heard the mumbles of unrest. He had been hearing countless plots against his life du out by his most faithful spies. He held on to his throne by threads that could be severed at any moment.

Unfortunately in his unsettled state he had misjudged the southerners once again. The fort that had been under siege had held, replacements arrived and his armies had fallen. He had nothing left; the country of Scanra would fall to others as his death was now more certain. He was on the run, a hunted King in an unforgiving land, a land that by his own hand was failing, a land that had nothing to lose at the end of his life but a better future, a more sustainable future.

All natural and technological

Processes proceed in such

A way that the availability of the

Remaining energy decreases

In all energy exchanges, if no energy

Enters or leaves an isolated system

The energy of that system increases

Energy continuously flows from being

Concentrated to becoming dispersed

Spread out, wasted and useless

New energy cannot be

Created and high grade

Energy is being destroyed

An economy based on endless

Growth is unstainable

He had been so trapped by madness that he had failed to realize just how unstable his country had become.

Unsu…

Unsustain, unsustain, unser

Uns, uns

Unsustainer, unsustainer

Uns, uns

You're unsustainable

As he was lead to the hangman's noose, a large populace of his beloved country gathered. He noticed for the first time, there were few men, the children were practically non-existent and the women were by far the most prominent. His country would suffer. The future was limited. A madman on the throne had done this. He had done this. Feeling the rope placed around his neck, he closed his eyes. His death was needed for his country. A better man would be able to right his wrongs. Be able to lead his country into greatness once again. He was a warlord, only knowing the harsh realities of bloodshed. What his country needed now was a leader who knew balance, could rule in peace. His time was up, the floor dropped from beneath him.

Unsustainer, unsustainer, ssstainer

News of Maggur's death traveled fast. It had been months since his last desperate attempts to overrun Tortall. He had been running from his fate, only being caught weeks before. His trial lasting a short time and his execution had Scanra celebrating unlike them had in years. Tortall gladly welcomed his death. Those who had fought and lived through that last battle dubbed heroes.

They began to rebuild their northern forces, armies and families were returning to their homes. A sense of ease was resting upon them after the time of war. The country of Scanra had suffered so much death that it would take years to refill. Too many generations had lost their lives in such a short period of time that there were rumors of towns populated solely of woman.

The fundamental laws of

Thermodynamics will place fixed

Limits on technological innovation

And human advancement

In an isolated system, the entropy

Can only increase

A species set on endless

Growth is unsustainable

Trudging back towards the capital, the survivors thanked Mithros they were still alive. Two in particular shuddered at how close they had come to death.

Unsu…

Unsustain, unsustain, user

Uns, uns

Unsustainer, unsustainer

Unsu

Unsustain, unsustain

Uns, uns

You're unsustainable

Scared but very much alive Dom and Kel headed home towards whatever their futures held.