"You're a big golden bully, then," said Bitterwood.

"And you're the Murder G.o.d," said Hex. "I would like to think, after the adventures we've shared, that we could call each other friends."

Bitterwood's frown returned. "I've never called any dragon friend," he said.

"I'm your friend," said Zeeky, coming up and placing her hand on Hex's wing.

"Me too," said Jeremiah. The boy had a big splotch of red paint on his cheek. Poocher trotted over and gave a gentle grunt as he set down next to Hex. The pig was a full-blown hog now, easily three hundred pounds.

"It's three against one, Bant," said Hex.

Bitterwood shook his head. "My feelings aren't up for a vote."

Hex sighed.

Bitterwood lowered his head, looking at the ground before him, weighing his thoughts. Finally, he said, "For what it's worth, I don't intend to kill you."

Hex nodded. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"But if you ever do anything to hurt the folks in Dragon Forge, I won't hesitate to finish you off," Bitterwood continued. "I've hung up my bow. I didn't bury it."

"It might be interesting to see the tree that would grow if you did bury it, yes?"

Bitterwood didn't grin at the joke. Instead, he had his eyes fixed on Hex's jaws. "Did you know that the sh.e.l.l doesn't cover the inside of your mouth?" he asked.

Hex clamped his jaws shut.

"I've got a barn to paint," said Bitterwood.

"I've got a villain to bring to justice," said Hex.

"That's king talk," said Bitterwood.

"I've always been aware of my fundamental contradictions," said Hex, leaping into the air.

He glanced back down. It definitely wasn't a trick of the light. Bitterwood grinned as he watched Hex fly away.

He flew downstream another five miles to the agreed upon meeting place. As he dropped toward the bank, he saw his companions lurking among the trees. They walked out as they saw him. Their blue scales were especially bright beneath the spring sun. All two hundred of the valkyries wore armor. He wondered if they would need it.

JANDRA KNELT ON both knees as she placed the bouquet of yellow tulips in front of the rough stone pyramid. All along the valley, the rhododendrons bloomed, flecking the steep stony mountains with white. She carved the name "Lizard" into the largest stone with a flaming fingertip. She let the flame fade away and she stared at the word for a long, quiet moment. both knees as she placed the bouquet of yellow tulips in front of the rough stone pyramid. All along the valley, the rhododendrons bloomed, flecking the steep stony mountains with white. She carved the name "Lizard" into the largest stone with a flaming fingertip. She let the flame fade away and she stared at the word for a long, quiet moment.

"Even though I wasn't in control, I could still feel the warmth of his scales under my fingers."

Shay placed his hand on her shoulder.

"It's not your fault," he said.

She leaned her cheek against his arm. "I remember everything she did," whispered Jandra. "Do you want to know what the worst of it was?"

"Tell me," he said.

"She was so absolutely confident that she was right," said Jandra. "She thought the world was broken, and only she had the wisdom and courage and power to fix it."

Shay squeezed her shoulder. She knew he knew the significance of these words. "You're nothing like her," he said.

"I know," said Jandra. "But I've been thinking a lot about her journey. She started with good intentions. It's difficult to pinpoint the moment she went off the path from being a good person to being a monster."

"Perhaps it was around the time she decided it was okay to kill people to get what she wanted."

"I've killed," said Jandra. "Long before I'd met her I'd killed both dragons and men."

"You were acting to defend yourself and others," said Shay.

"She was acting to save the world," said Jandra.

She stood up, wiping the grit from her blue silk trousers. Shay already had his wings unfolded. He looked quite heroic in his red coat, with his shoulders pulled back. Vendevorex had repaired his muscles and scars. With the powers she commanded, she could have healed him herself... she could heal anyone and everyone. She could feed the hungry and give shelter to the homeless and strength to the weak.

"When we get back from the moon," she said, "I'm going to take off my genie."

Shay raised his eyebrow.

"I'll still help you train to use yours," she said.

"But-"

"I don't know if I have Vendevorex's level of self-restraint," she said. "He's always been sparing in the use of his abilities. He's far more powerful than he lets on. I never understood why he didn't do more good. For a while, I thought it was because he was afraid of the Atlanteans discovering he was using their technology. Now, I understand the truth-having been to Atlantis, he saw the effects of limitless altruism. Just because he has the power to fix the world's problems doesn't mean that it's always right to do so."

"You're afraid you might do too much good for the world?"

"I still want to make the world better," said Jandra. "But I want to do it following your vision. I want to help you start your school. We'll give people the tools they need to solve their own problems. I don't want people to become dependent on me."

Shay smiled. "It's a little late for that. I'm already dependent on you." He lifted into the air and held his hand toward her. "Without you near, I suspect I'd wither away."

"Flatterer."

"It's true," he said. "I think it's worth trying, by the way."

"What's worth trying?"

"When we get back, take off your genie for a year. I'll take off mine, since I barely can use it anyway. We'll discover if the world can last a year without our magic."

She took his hand as her wings chimed out to their full length. She rose into the air until they were the same height.

"With you," she said, "there will always be magic."

They tilted toward each other. Their lips met gently in weightless bliss. Shay wrapped his arms around her waist as they drifted in the flower-scented breeze. They floated for what felt like eternity, as her fears and doubts melted away.

When he finally broke from the kiss, she gazed into his eyes.

There was a question she felt embarra.s.sed to ask.

"What?" he whispered.

"After we put up the genies, we're, um, keeping the wings, right?"

"Of course my angel," he whispered, stroking her cheek as they climbed into the endless blue.

It was nightfall when Hex reached the Free City. In the weeks since he'd visited the population had swelled, rivaling Richmond in size. He suspected that the people in Richmond were enjoying the economic boom of selling an endless stream of building supplies to their thriving neighbor.

They landed by the barn that served as Blasphet's abode. A crowd of white-robed citizens gathered around him and the valkyries.

He noted with a certain satisfaction that humans outnumbered earth-dragons here fifty to one, and sky-dragons perhaps three-hundred to one. There were no sun-dragons to be seen. He wondered if this spoke to the differences in gullibility among the various species. Of course, it could also have reflected the degree to which the lives of the various races had been thrown into turmoil by the recent unrest.

The barn doors were open, allowing the warm spring breeze to flow through the place. The barn looked much as he left it, though the gate to Atlantis had been closed. Vendevorex had finally mastered that trick.

A silver mosquito landed on Hex's gold-plated ear.

It buzzed in a perfect simulacrum of Vendevorex's voice that only he could hear.

"I've been wondering when you would show up," the mosquito said.

"Are you near?" Hex whispered.

"I'm still in Atlantis," said Vendevorex. "There are machines here I need in order to do what you wish. But I have drones to serve as my eyes and ears."

Hex nodded, hoping Vendevorex saw the gesture. He walked into the barn with the valkyries at his heels.

Blasphet was on his canvas-covered podium. He looked pleased by Hex's arrival.

"You look worthy of worship, nephew," said Blasphet.

"No, my lord, no," whispered a robed woman near the black dragon's feet. She sounded distressed.

"My followers find the thoughts of worshipping any other dragon stressful, I fear," said Blasphet. "I believe it's because, despite my most fervent protests, they believe I am a G.o.d."

"You called yourself a G.o.d once," said Hex. "And, as a G.o.d, you're responsible for the deaths of eight-hundred-seventy-three valkyries, victims of your genocidal a.s.sault on the Nest."

"You speak of deeds I performed before I was reborn," said Blasphet.

"I speak of deeds for which you will be brought to justice. These valkyries are here to arrest you. You're to be tried for your crimes before a council of learned dragons. Should they decide you are guilty of the a.s.sault upon the Nest, you will face execution."

"I've already died for those crimes," said Blasphet. "My sins were washed away in my own blood."

"Perhaps this argument will impress your judges."

The woman at his feet sprung up.

"No!" she shouted. "You cannot take him! He's the life force of this city! He provides all food. He cures all ills. His wise counsel has united the races!"

"If his counsel is truly wise and you've learned from him, perhaps your city will thrive," said Hex. "I won't interfere with your development. If you've discovered a better path through life, I hope it spreads to all the corners of the earth. Blasphet, however, will be at the Nest."

The woman clenched her fists. Blasphet placed his fore-talon on her shoulder.

"Colobi, you are dear to me. I know you would die to protect me. I do not ask for your life, however. Listen to my nephew. Follow my example. Spread my teachings. Serve the world."

The woman looked up with tears in her eyes.

Blasphet sounded as if there were tears in his own voice as he said, "I ask that all of my children leave the room. I would have a moment of alone with our guests."

The women who lined the walls glared as they filed out of the barn. The valkyrie at the back of the room drew the doors closed.

"Do you intend to come peacefully?"

"Of course," said Blasphet. He sounded smug. "I cannot guarantee, however, that my followers will allow our safe pa.s.sage. They can be... zealous."

"We won't be leaving through the door," said Hex. "Vendevorex, it's time."

A circular rainbow opened in the air near the wall, yawning ever wider until it was large enough to swallow a sun-dragon.

"The Nest is on the other side," said Hex.

"I suspected as much," said the former Murder G.o.d. "I've been aware of the wizard's bug for days now. My eyes and ears are much keener than they once were."

"We know," said Hex. He pointed at the portal. Half of the valkyries were already pa.s.sing through the gate. "Follow them," said Hex.

Blasphet rose. His eyes were creased with a look of satisfaction.

"Did you know that the humans have a myth?" he asked, just before he vanished into the gate.

Hex followed closely behind. They emerged in dim lamplight, in the dank, cool air of the Nest. They were in the thread room, the focal point of Blasphet's slaughter here.

Blasphet finished his thought. "They speak of a healer who some called a G.o.d. When he was alive, he would answer all queries about his divinity with riddles. The authorities of his day killed him. When he rose from the dead, his followers knew without doubt what he truly was. His worship has survived the rise and fall of civilizations."

"You won't be rising from the dead, uncle."

"Won't I?" said Blasphet. "I helped guide Vendevorex back from death. Not that I think I will die, mind you. When I called myself the Murder G.o.d, all I had at my command were a few poisons. Now, I control all matter. The building blocks of the physical world are my playthings. With my knowledge and powers, I expect I will enjoy a very long life. I may even be immortal."

Hex couldn't help but notice the smugness in Blasphet's voice. He said, "The valkyries will no doubt decide the span of your life. I suspect it may not be as long as you appear to think."

"I have nothing to fear from the valkyries," said Blasphet. "You won't let them harm me."