In the early hours, Persephone awoke with a gasp. It was a normal reaction for someone who was for the first time seeing the end of the world from the other side. King Ajax stirred beside her. Beyond the window, the lands of the Realms stretched from end to end. Below, they could clearly see the cliffs, ice caps and racing falls that marked the edge of their world. Here and there, lesser sky islands drifted. In the near distance, a pod of sky whales breached the clouds. She settled on her side, gazing out. The King's hand settled on her hip. "You were wonderful," he said.

The Flower Maiden entwined her fingers with his. "My Lord, you show your Favor in strange ways," she said. She spoke in an accent that she usually suppressed. She rolled over to face him. Any observer outside would have seen her entirely bare back. "The Maidens and the commoners call you Ajax the Virtuous. Sometimes, they laugh. Yet you know how to treat a woman, even if you do not do as other men would."

"It is enough that you are pleased," the King said smoothly. "Is it not the place of a King to put others before himself?"

To fill the silence, he pointed outward. "Here is a sight not many see this close," he said. To the starboard side, an Island floated into view. It was unremarkable in size and shape, unless one looked closely at the moss-covered outcroppings of grim, gray rock. Ajax pulled out a pair of binoculars. With magnification, the outline of massive masonry emerged. As the perspective shifted with parallax, the form of the crumbling Keep and a lonely pair of winged statues supporting the higher battlements became clear.

"It is the Sky Palace," he said. "It circles the World Island elliptically. Often, it is much closer, but harder to observe."

"Who built it?" Persephone asked, in wonder rather than the expectation of an answer. "How did it come to be here?"

"None can say," Ajax said. "All we know is that it is very, very old. Perhaps it was a piece of the World Island that broke free, or a remnant of another World that eroded to dust. Brave adventurers and scribes have studied it, even repaired certain parts sufficiently for occupation. Tales tell that certain strange and powerful Relics were found there. I led an expedition, with a team who had studied the sciences of my world. We found only a few mundane articles that revealed little beyond the fact that the builders were men, or not unlike them."

In the early morning light, Ajax took out a pad of paper and drew Persephone. "I tried my hand at art in the world of my birth," he said as she looked at his work, clearly flattered. She reached for a bag and produced a tiny yarn Ajax doll, clearly old.

"I made this when I was a girl," she said. "All the girls did, of course. They taught us to sew spells of good fortune into the doll, for your health and the prosperity of the kingdom. It was the first lesson at the Mages' Academy." Ajax nodded; it was a custom he had tolerated. "I believe I have told you, I am quite skilled in magic. By your leave, I will cast a spell." He nodded again. The Maiden ran a finger across the doll's forehead. "I call on Ataraxes, the spirit of peace. To the kingdom, tranquility. To the king, a calm mind." As she spoke, Ajax indeed felt his anxieties ease, especially those he felt over the still unopened bottle from the Realms of the Lindorms.

Persephone rose first. When she slid from between the sheets, a light blue slip hugged her body without benefit of straps or any obvious anchoring point. Beginning at her shoulders, what looked like a light blue dress and bonnet grew around her. She looked back, and blushed when she found the King watching her. "Surely someone has told you, the good Mushroom Men look away when we do that," she said. Her accent had already disappeared.

They emerged to find that Nopalina had already fixed breakfast for them and herself. "Did Lady Persephone enjoy herself?" she said to the King. Without waiting for an answer, she leaned in and stage-whispered to the other Maiden, "What story did you read?"

"Perseus and Medusa," Persephone said. "He said it's his favorite."

"It is," Nopalina said as she took a seat. "Or so I'm told…"

Persephone smiled. "So, have you really never had the King's Favor?"

"Well, it depends on what you mean," the senior Maid said. "I was among his Night Attendants during my first Season. Twice, he chose me to attend him on his Days of Rest. The second time, he favored me with a summons. We sat together and talked for a while, then I read to him. When I was done, he gave me leave to return to my room. After, he offered to remove me from Night Duty, to show his respect. We both agreed it was best."

"Really," Persephone said. She turned back to Ajax. "You must know, there are stories that you might favor Nopalina in other ways…"

"I have heard," Ajax said. Nopalina only smiled. "I have never made a false promise to any of my Attendants. I cannot help what people say. They talk because they want something to talk about."

Nopalina did speak up then. "Still, it is the ninth year," she said. "By tradition, it is almost time for a King to choose a Queen."

"Yes, they say that," the King acknowledged. "There is no formal law, however. My advisors have reviewed the matter carefully. The only rule is that if a King reigns ten years with neither offspring nor a chosen Queen, he must name another to be his successor. I have considered several options."

Persephone smiled at that. "Of course, a King must be prepared," she said. She stroked his hand. "Everyone knows, you are too wise to let your plans be known too soon."

"Maidens," Ajax said, "it is almost time for the rendezvous. I bid you, go speak to the Captain. Give him any aid you can provide if he asks. I will follow shortly."

The Maidens hurried out, whispering to each other and giggling. Ajax sighed, though he smiled. After a moment, he went back to the cabinet beside his bed. Below the two shelves of books was a tiny safe. He entered his combination. Inside was the bottle sent the day before, in the name of Empress Pruna. He pressed his signet to the stopper, then twisted and pulled. A small parchment fell to the floor as the stopper came out. Ajax hastily picked it up. It took less time to read the note than it had to pick it up. He hastily pushed it back in the bottle. For perhaps three minutes, he stood where he was, breathing heavily. Finally, he took out the only other item in the safe, the Eightfold Orb. It took but a moment to set it up on the table.

"I, Ajax, King of the Red Realm, ask for the wisdom of the Eightfold Orb," he said. "Orb, is the message I received from the Realms of the Lindorms truly from Empress Pruna?" The symbol that was not quite an 8 disappeared as the Orb clouded. As quickly as it faded, the answer came: Proposition confirmed. The king nodded. He had known Pruna's script as soon as he saw it. He slumped in his chair.

"Orb," the King said heavily, "is the message true?" The Orb began to cloud, but the sign did not disappear. He reworded, "Is what the Empress says based on a true and reliable report?" The answer formed quickly, Proposition highly probable. "Does the Emperor Naam know of her message or what she has spoken of?" The answer took a little longer. Proposition negative. "Has she received her information from my own court?" He was surprised to see an answer. Proposition possible. Only then did the King reopen the bottle and take out the message. A tear trickled down his cheek as he examined the flowing script.

He stepped out of his cabin, smiling. There were many approving smiles from the crew. "Good morning, my Lord," the Captain said. "We approach the harbor of Aetherium. Xaja's craft is already within sight. The Harbor Authority reports that he is aboard."

"Good," Ajax said. "Prepare to dock. I will be on the quarter deck." He withdrew without comment. Several of the crew discretely withdrew as he approached the rail. He leaned against the rail. Within a minute or two, his chin rested on his hands. He looked up, to find Nopalina at his side. He showed no surprise, though he was unaware how long she had been there.

"You read the message from Lady Pruna, didn't you?" she said, without the pretense of a question.

"Yes," he said.

There was a long silence. "Do you want to talk about it?" Nopalina asked, genuinely curious. "You know I would not speak of it, if you wish it kept secret."

He shrugged. "I would keep it private, but there is nothing to tell," he said. "She only sends me good will on the anniversary of the Peace… and her best wishes in the choosing of my Queen."

Nopalina nodded. "She always cared for you," she said. "Choosing another will not make you care for her any less."

He nodded in turn. "I might have made my choice sooner if I thought it would," he said. He turned to the Maiden. She met his gaze.

"My Lord," she said preemptively, "if you would ask me on your Choosing, you know I am forbidden to speak of another Maiden, whether in her favor or disfavor."

"Of course, I would not lay that burden on you," Ajax said.

"Besides, my Lord," she said, trying to take a happier tone, "surely you know your own mind. Your intentions have been clear. All the people agree, Persephone will be a fine Queen."

"Yes," Ajax said. "It is just… have you ever wondered… whether we should have been King and Queen?"

She looked away. "I am sorry, my Lord," she said. She slapped the rail as she began to laugh. "But you tell a fine jest!" She continued to laugh as she descended to the main deck.

Ajax sighed. Yet again, he still smiled. As he turned away, he cast the note into the wind.

As the parchment fluttered in the wind, a thousand variables came in play. A single gust might have blown it back into the King's hands, or sent it floundering across the deck. It came close to being sucked into the skyship's propellers. Instead, the backwash sent it on its way, aloft on the winds between the Worlds. Perhaps it was ripped, stained beyond legibility, or crumbled by age and rot. Perhaps it was consumed by a creature of the skies that mistook it for prey, or thoughtlessly trampled by a beast of the Islands. Or perhaps even now, it may be tumbling into the hand of some roving mariner or a far-flung native. If it is legible, and if they know the script of the Mushroom Realms, this is what they will read…

Dearest Ajax,

You are in great danger. A plot is made against your throne and your life. Know that my Lord and our Realms are innocent. Trust no one. I cannot aid you, though my heart is with you. You will never fight alone.

Forever your Princess,

Lady Pruna.