Epilogue: Enigma
There was already a person on the little hill that overlooked the east gate of the place that had once been a town named Mayasa, more than two decades ago. The barren place and eerie ruins were now populated by swarms of workers, both from Deusis and Anatoure who had choosen to erect their homes there.
Sophia smiled. She had heard the rumors about the destruction of the village at the hands of the Guild, then seen confirmation when Tom had told her the story. She smiled in pride at the work that was being done to revive the valley. The ruins had been cleared, the streets rebuilt. Sitting in the crook of the valley, it was indeed a beautiful sight. The only thing that thwarted the scenery before her was the simple grave marker reading, "Tom Tavin. Captain of the Phantom Ship."
"For once, it's nice to come home."
Sophia nodded as she stood next to Caroline and let her gaze wander across the vista. "Home...it's become a place i really look forward to being at, now," Caroline added, then closed her eyes, bathing in the sunlight for a moment. "But it's not the same."
"It never is. Things change. For better or for worse, they change."
"True. But I wasn't talking about the place."
Sophia remained silent. "I know. As much as we change things, they change us, too," she finally told her companion.
"Like us?"
"Like us." The two women watched the village in amiable silence for a while, before Sophia spoke up again. "You know, we do what we are."
"You mean, we are what we do."
Shaking her head, Sophia indicated them both. "No. We do what we are. We follow our dreams, and that's where our destiny takes us."
Caroline chuckled. "Tom never believed in destiny. His point of view was, you make your own. If it doesn't fit, make it fit." Sophia smiled. "Yeah, he had this tendency to go against all the rules in the book – and still come out winning."
"You know," Caroline suddenly began, "he was in love with you. Probably the only woman who could steal his heart – besides our Vanship." She winked at the other woman. Blushing slightly, Sophia glanced at her. "He never really told me..." And he never will. We didn't even find a body...
There was a rustle in the leaves behind them, and the women turned around. Caroline's hand went to her holster.
"Why the hell is there a grave for someone if the guy's not dead yet?" A light voice asked from behind them. As they turned fully, both women's jaws dropped nearly to the ground. The man leaning against the tree in front of them chuckled. "Now, that's not very lady-like, is it?"
He strolled out of the shadow of the tree and stood in front of them, arms crossed. Before them stood a tall, middle-aged man with silver-shot light brown hair in a pristine Anatoure commander's uniform. "Tom?" Sophia whispered. How did he pull that one off? Caroline asked herself. Screw that, I don't want to know. It's enough that he's here.
"Nope." He saluted, then stood at ease and grinned. "Tomaas Riatavin, at your service, Empress. Tom Tavin, captain of the Phantom Ship, died along with it."
When they left the hill, glittering behind them in the sunlight was a plaque, replacing the marker.
CU CHULAINN
GUILD'S NEMESIS
TOM TAVIN, CAPT. AND MASTER
ALL I ASK IS A TALL SHIP, AND A STAR TO STEER HER BY...
