The Worlds of the Sheaf

Gromm - Part 4

    "His memories of Tak's life are almost complete," said Lord Ruby with satisfaction, watching the two wizards in the imaging chamber. "All that remains is for him to remember how we were reunited after hundreds of years as raks living separately. How we created the Realms where we now live and the discovery of the terrible danger that now threatens to destroy us all. And not just us but worlds without number. Once those last few memories come to him, and it cannot be long now, we will be able to make direct contact with him." He looked around at the others gathered beside him. "Where's Lapis Lazuli?" he asked. "I'd have thought she'd have wanted to be here to see this."

     "I haven't seen her for some time," replied Topaz. He looked at Jasper and Garnet, who shrugged disinterestedly. The activities of Lord Sapphire's former apprentice and occasional lover was of no interest to them.

     "It's a pity Matthew Winterwell had to leave," said Garnet regretfully. "He was good for the host. Saved him a lot of heartache and smoothed the assimilation of the seed. Couldn't we have engineered his remaining as a member of the crew for a few months longer?"

     "Not easily," replied Lord Ruby, "and now that the host has come to terms with what is happening to him he doesn't need the support of his friend so much. Also, he has his wife. She will provide whatever help and support he needs."

     "Giving him Lord Sapphire's memories is one thing," said Topaz doubtfully, "but how do we know he will also gain his unique talent? His exceptional ability to see through to the heart of a problem and find the solution? Yes, he has successfully resurrected several of Tak's spells, but that isn't the same as being able to perfect the Star Dragons. We're not even sure the original Lord Sapphire could have done that. He himself said on many occasions that the problem was beyond him."

     "All we can do is resurrect what we can of our comrade and hope for the best," said the Gem Lord. "If he fails, what have we lost? Will we die sooner because of our wasted effort?"

     "No, but we might have put the time we have left to better use. Enjoyed ourselves while we can."

     "You can still do that. At least a thousand years remain before the end. Maybe many thousands..."

     He was interrupted as Jade rushed in looking badly scared, an emotion so out of place on one of their number that the others needed a moment to identify it. "We have a serious problem," she said, staring in wide eyed alarm at the images of Thomas and Lirenna in the imaging chamber. "I've found Lapis Lazuli."

     "Where is she?" demanded Lord Ruby. "What is she doing? If she dares to interfere..."

     "She went to Tharia. She passed through the Ruby Keep several weeks ago and has since made her way to Tara, to the teleportation cubicle up to Kronos. I think she's taken the place of a member of the crew of the Jules Verne."

     "Why in the world..." began Jasper, but then he gasped in horror. "She's going to try to kill the host's wife! She thinks he'll then come back to her. Love her the way Tak did."

     "We have to stop her!" cried Garnet, staring from one to another of his comrades. "You've seen how much he loves the demi-shae. If one of us is responsible for her death..."

     "He'll turn away from us," continued Jasper. "He'll never agree to help us. We have to do something!"

     "There's nothing we can do," said Lord Ruby, however.

     He looked stricken with sick horror. They'd worked and planned for centuries, labouring towards the one small chance for survival they still possessed, and against all the odds it had begun to seem as if they might actually succeed, but now one half insane old woman was going to doom them all. He sat heavily in a chair as if his legs had suddenly lost the strength to support him.