"It is not too late," said one of the Shepherds. "We can give it back to you."
"No," said Vell, though tears filled his eyes. "Finish it."
The unnatural strength Vell had felt in his muscles for so long was ripped away, and he felt weak as a child. All of the skills and senses that had imbued him on Runemeet at Morgur's Mound were gone. He was the plain, ordinary, and unremarkable Uthgardt warrior known as Vell the Brown again.
But he didn't feel that way.
* * * * *
"We are your ancestors," the Shepherds said as they again gathered before Sungar and the others at the Sanctuary's edge. "We are your history."
"Yet no songs are sung of you," said Sungar. "Perhaps some of the songs our skald sings are about events that never happened. They never tell the whole story, but they hold our tribe together. They preserve the stories we tell about ourselves. You are not part of us.
"And now," Sungar said, "I must return something to you."
Sungar raised the axe and held it high over his head, just as he had that day in the Fallen Lands. "With this locked inside your walls of illusion, you can live out the remainder of time safely, and the North will never again suffer your manipulations."
"Wait," said Thluna, reaching out a hand to stop Sungar. He turned to the Shepherds. "As you took the magic from Vell, can you also take it from the axe?"
The Shepherds cast glances among themselves. "Why do you ask?"
"Could you remove the magic so the axe can never access the Sanctuary?" asked Kellin. "In essence, could you sever the magical connection between it and the Heart of Runlatha?"
"Yes," said one of the Shepherds firmly. "We can. Indeed, we would be happy to prevent the Sanctuary from ever being disturbed again."
Kellin turned to Sungar. "It's your decision. And it will still be a magical weapon afterward."
Thluna said, "But it will always be the weapon of Berun, of Chief Tharkane, and of Uthgar."
"Let it be done," decided Sungar.
The Shepherds gathered around the Heart again. A faint red glow within the axe flared then faded out, marking the weapon's separation from the artifact to which it had been tied more than fifteen hundred years earlier.
Before long, the Sanctuary and all within started to flicker and fade as the illusion returned. "You belong to the past," said Vell. "Stay there."
In a blink's time, the entire Sanctuary was gone, replaced by a huge field at the foot of Mount Vision, marked by three massive phandar trees. For quite a while the six comrades stood there, staring at the untouched landscape before them, the high Star Mounts towering into the sky above. They knew what they saw was false, but there was no way for the eye to see it.
"Where do you go from here?" asked Lanaal.
Sungar answered, "North to Grandfather Tree, if you'd care to show us the way. The Tree Ghosts and their elf companions have done the Thunderbeast tribe a great service. I want to thank them personally, and cement the bonds of friendship between our two tribes. They need to know that Rask Urgek died a hero. From there, to Rauvin Vale. Home to our people."
Thluna and Ilskar smiled at the thought, but Vell did not.
"What do we tell our people?" asked Thluna. "About them, I mean?" He waved toward the walls of illusion that concealed the Shepherds. "Do we hide their existence, just as they have done?"
"If my chief commands it, I will keep the secret till my death," said Ilskar.
"I do not doubt it, Ilskar," said Sungar. He looked at the axe in his hand. "How do we explain to the Thunderbeasts that the axe has come back? Do we lie? Make up some story? I confess, I am tired of lies."
"Why not simply tell them the truth?" asked Lanaal.
"But to know the whole truth," said Vell. "That our ancestors are such creatures as the Shepherds? That we are descended from an empire of wizards?"
"Will we have Hazred the Voice compose a ballad about that?" quipped Thluna.
"What do you think we should do, daughter of Zale?" asked Sungar.
Kellin was taken aback at his question. There was no mockery in his voice. The Uthgardt was truly asking the advice of a trusted and battle-proven ally, and Kellin felt honored. But a wave of guilt rolled over her as she answered.
"My inclination is always toward the truth," she said. "But I also recognize that some truths are too hurtful and dangerous to be spread. You are wise, Chieftain Sungar. I'm sure you will make the right decision."
"I'm sure you will as well," said Sungar. "When you deem to put us in your books."
Kellin smiled.
"Don't worry," said Vell. "I will make sure she depicts you all in a favorable light."
Sungar's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, Vell?" asked Thluna.
"I won't be returning to the tribe with you." Vell spoke softly but firmly. "I'm going south with Kellin. To Candlekeep, or whatever other place we might find ourselves." He turned to face Kellin. "That is, if you'll have me."
She reached out to touch his arm. "Only if you're sure, Vell."
"What?" said Sungar. "Why?"
"I don't know if I can explain myself," said Vell. "Please don't misunderstand me. I am not renouncing the tribe. I am a Thunderbeast, and will always be a Thunderbeast. But all of this has changed me too much. I do not think I can return to my life as it was before."
Sungar frowned with disgust. "You would go to her world instead? The world of cities, of books, of magic—of civilization?"
"It is the only place I know to go." Vell's brown eyes met Sungar's blue ones. As much as he wanted to avert his gaze in shame, Vell held steady.
"You know how they look at us there: as savages, as comic brutes, nothing more." Vell wondered if Sungar reacted this way because of what he endured in his imprisonment. "They are not all like Kellin."
"But no chief may press his will in this way," said Thluna. "It is your choice, Vell." There was sadness in his voice, but admiration as well.
"I think it's a wonderful decision," said Lanaal. "Go someplace else, experience something new—what else is life about? It takes bravery and it takes vision. This is a great thing you're doing, the two of you."
"Do you ever mean to return, Vell?" asked Thluna. "Thanar left the tribe as well, but he returned and died fighting alongside us."
"In truth," Vell answered, "I do not know."
Sungar trained his eyes on Kellin. "You would deprive our tribe of one of its warriors?"
"One warrior will not make the difference between victory or defeat," Kellin answered.
"Do you truly think this is the best thing for Vell?" Sungar asked.
"Yes," she said. "As a matter of fact, I do."
Sungar's face reddened and his grip on the axe tightened.
"I don't need your approval, my chief," said Vell. "I have earned the right to my own mind. But I would like your blessing."
Silence hung over them for a long time. At last, Sungar spoke, his voice kindly. "If you want my blessing," he said, "you have it. And as my last gift to you for your services to your tribe, Vell the Brown, I promise you this. I will ask Hazred the Voice to write a song about you, of great length and surpassing beauty. It will tell of your bravery, your sacrifice, and of your valiant death."