Barrin beamed as he patted out the flames on his robes. "Congratulations are in order."
"Congratulations," Urza said flatly.
"Not for me," Barrin replied with a laugh. "For the head of the rig, your former student-Jhoira."
Urza nodded, drifting down toward what was left of the mana rig. The section that had broken loose now ambled over the rocky ridges of Shiv. It seemed almost a guard dog, spoiling for a fight.
"I thought I knew everything about this rig."
"Me too," Barrin said with a wry shrug. "Jhoira seems to have taught it a few new tricks. By the way, you might like to fix your goatee before you see her again."
An irritable whoosh rushed over Urza, restoring beard, brows, hair, and robes to their impeccable best. He looked scornfully at the burned-out mage.
"What about you? Have you any laundering spells? Any darning sorceries?"
Spreading charred robes, Barrin replied, "Not on me. What you see is what you get."
Urza nodded silently, grinding his teeth. The two drifted down, watching the lava tubes retreat into the dome of the rig. Plates slid from their pockets and slowly crept back over the openings. With a rattle and clank, they settled in place.
Barrin and Urza dropped down among the towers of the facility. The flying sorceries released them. Boots came to rest on an arched balcony of smooth metal. Stately robes and tattered rags settled.
Barrin sighed as he felt the warm solidity of the metal beneath his feet. "Where do you suppose we will find Jhoira?" he wondered aloud.
"Right here." The voice came from a tall archway of interlaced metal. Within it stood Jhoira herself. Forever young, the dark-haired, dark-eyed Ghitu woman wore work coveralls and an overloaded tool belt. She also wore a sardonic expression. "I thought you'd show up for the fireworks."
"Very impressive, my dear," Barrin said genuinely, approaching her. He held his arms out. "Do you mind a little dirt?"
Jhoira embraced him. "Never have," she said into his ear. "It is good to see you, Master Barrin."
"And you, Jhoira," he replied. "It is also good to see what provisions you have made for the defense of the rig."
"I had some help," Jhoira said, gesturing behind her.
Through the metal archway came a huge, robust figure. The dragon walked upright on powerful talons, balanced by a lashing tail. A talismanic belt and neckpiece were the only clothes he wore on his scaly belly, though his wings hung behind him like royal robes. Horns rose in a manifold crown from his ancient face.
"Darigaaz!" Barrin said happily.
Jhoira coughed into her hand. "Lord Rhammidarigaaz of the Shivan Fire Dragons."
"Of course," Barrin replied, bowing low. "Thank you, Lord Dragon for the valiant aid of you and your folk."
In a voice like rumbling rocks, Darigaaz replied simply, "This is my home."
Urza bowed to the dragon as well. "Shiv is your home, and Dominaria is home to all of us. We hope we can count on your aid in defense of the world at large."
The dragon seemed almost to smile. "I have already begun such efforts. I am gathering the dragon nations. We will fight for Dominaria."
"Excellent," Urza said. He turned to Jhoira. "You have done well, my dear. Remarkably well. But this isn't the last Phyrexian attempt on Shiv. I trust you have made arrangements should the Phyrexians appear beyond the reach of your lava tubes."
"She has indeed," came a new voice. Teferi stepped from the shadows of the arch. The lithe, spark-eyed man walked easily to
Jhoira's side. He bowed to each of his former masters. "Shiv will not fall into Phyrexian claws. I will save it, as I saved Zhalfir."
Urza strode suddenly forward. He breathed-a sign of concentration-and his visage reddened. "You cannot take away this rig. It is mine."
"It belonged to the Viashino before you, and to the Thran before them," Jhoira said. "Besides, we are not taking your rig. We are taking Shiv. We are saving my home."
"You would deprive us of powerstones? Thran metal?"
"No," Jhoira responded, stepping between the two planeswalkers. "We will leave you the mobile portion of the rig. Even now, it crawls away to a safe distance. It will remain for you to use. This portion, here, and all of our homes, though-these will go with us."
"You are dooming Dominaria," raged Urza.
Teferi shook his head placidly. "No. You are the one doing that, my friend."
Urza's eyes blazed. The Might and Weakstones showed clearly. "I will save our world."
"You do not promise that," Teferi said. "You have promised only to destroy the Phyrexians, whatever the cost. Our homes will not be part of the cost."
"You will not take this land! I forbid it!" Urza roared.
Teferi shrugged. "Forbid if you wish. Even now, we are phasing out. A planeswalker cannot step through time, Urza. Unless you leave now, and take Barrin and Darigaaz with you, you'll be stuck here with us for dozens or hundreds of years. It is your choice."
Urza quivered, speechless.
"Now, masters," Jhoira said. "Leave now or be trapped for centuries. Good-bye."
"Good-bye, Jhoira, Teferi," Barrin said. "Fare you well."
Without a word, Urza angrily clutched Barrin's hand and Rhammidarigaaz's claw. The three stepped away from the rig. They plunged into the Blind Eternities.
Chapter 21
"Prepare to planeshift!" Gerrard called, kneeling with his arms around Hanna.
The navigator lay unconscious just beside her console. Her stomach wound wept blood.
Orim worked diligently over her, laying hands on the site. Silvery sorcery enveloped her fingers.
"My magic hasn't worked before on this plague, but…"
Sisay stood nearby at the helm. She steered the ship through Rath, up and away from the Phyrexian troops they had just bombed.
"We need a navigator to planeshift."
"Damn," Gerrard growled. He flipped open the speaking tube above Hanna's desk. "Karn, lay in a planeshift back to Llanowar." "It'll take him time," Sisay warned.
"Stay high, then, and let's hope these bastards haven't got any airships close by."
"Ships spotted!" Tahngarth shouted from the starboard bow gun. "A squadron of fighters-perhaps two score!"
With back-swept wings and blazing ray cannons, the Phyrexians came on. Deadly shafts of energy ripped out from the converging fighters and flashed all around Weatherlight. One beam tore through the starboard rail just beside Tahngarth. It gouged a groove across the forecastle, vaulted through the air amidships, and clipped the helm.
"Evasive!" Gerrard called.
"Yes, yes! Of course, evasive!" Sisay snapped. She rolled the wheel hard to starboard.
Weatherlight listed. Rath's sultry winds crashed against the turned keel and spilled up both gunwales. Her manifolds sucked hot air. Engines struggled to grip the wind. Another volley of ray fire flashed past. A bolt caught the hull just beneath the main engine, burned through the bilges, and boiled a barrel of wine in the hold. Had it not been for that merlot, the beam would have cracked the power core. As if sensing its near demise, the engines surged, hurling Weatherlight back the way she had come.
The ship vaulted angrily up from the turn, finding herself in sudden and lethal company. Phyrexian fighters swarmed her. They jagged, their wings as sharp as claws. Squee at the aft gun flung ray fire at them. Most of the glowing flack slid past, tumbling in air. One fighter was too slow. Squee blasted it. The ship skipped and flared. It plunged to cut a long furrow in the flow-stone below.