The armies of Earth win. Menju the Sorcerer plans to take over Thimhallan. Fearful of attack from the magi, he orders that the Well of Life be sealed. The source of magic is shut off, except from a chosen few-Menju and the other Dark Cultists. Magic dies in Thimhallan. The people are forced to learn to live without it. They must rebuild their cities and they turn to the Sorcerers to help them.

A schism arises among the Dark Cults. Menju is put on trial before the Sol-t'kan. Sol-t'kan. He is found guilty of innumerable crimes, the main one being that he intended to rule Thimhallan alone, without offering to share any of its resources with his brethren. Menju is put to death. Kevon Smythe takes over rulership of the Dark Cultists. He is found guilty of innumerable crimes, the main one being that he intended to rule Thimhallan alone, without offering to share any of its resources with his brethren. Menju is put to death. Kevon Smythe takes over rulership of the Dark Cultists.

Smythe travels to Thimhallan.

Saryon discovers that the Dark Cultists are searching for the Darksword. Guided by the Almin, he ventures into the Zoo, which has been damaged in the a.s.sault on Zith-el. The magical boundaries that surrounded the Zoo have been destroyed, its creatures roam free. Saryon comes across the lair of a Dragon of Night. The creature was stunned during the attack on Zith-el. Having been caught outside in the light, it is comatose.

Saryon charms the dragon, who swears its loyalty to him. Saryon leaves the Darksword with the Dragon of Night, telling it that it should give the sword only to himself or the heir of Joram, Eliza. Bound by the charm, the dragon agrees. Saryon returns to Zith-el, continues to live there with his adopted children, Eliza and Reuven.

Smythe was going to put Prince Garald to death, but foreseeing his doom, the Prince fled Sharakan before the soldiers could capture him. He and his followers hid out in the Outlands, always on the run from the Technomancers. Garald dreams of driving Smythe from Thimhallan, but without magic, there is little he can do against the powerful Technomancers.

At this juncture Simkin returns from his travels to Earth. Garald accuses Simkin of betraying Joram and orders him put to death.

Simkin bargains for his life. He knows of a source of magic, if Garald is interested.

The Well of Life is sealed, but Simkin reveals that there is a tap, used by Smythe and his people to renew their own magic. In a daring raid, Prince Garald, his friend James Boris, Mosiah, and their knights steal into the Well and, following a swift, bitter battle, unseal the Well.

Magic is once again released into Thimhallan. Garald forces Smythe and his Technomancers to retreat to Earth.

Garald's one worry is the Darksword. He knows that Smythe is searching for it and fears that if the Technomancers find it, they will use it to once more rule the world. Garald believes that Saryon knows where the Darksword is hidden. He finds Saryon and his wards-Reuven and Eliza. Garald is struck by Eliza's beauty and guesses her parentage. Saryon reveals her true ident.i.ty. Garald asks about the Darksword. Saryon is evasive.

Garald puts Joram's daughter, Eliza, on the throne of Merilon. Merilon and Sharakan are allies. Bishop Vanya has died. Cardinal Radisovik has been made Bishop and he decrees that Father Saryon should be Eliza's adviser until she comes of age. Father Saryon accepts this task reluctantly, thinking himself un-suited. He leaves Reuven behind at the Font, in training as a catalyst.

Magic is restored, but it is weak. Though the barrier surrounding Thimhallan is rebuilt, magic is found to be seeping out of it and there doesn't appear to be anything anyone can do to stop it.

The people live on a combination of sorcery and steel. The Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith are the wizards, they being the ones with the most power left in magic. Prince Garald trains more knights to guard the realm. are the wizards, they being the ones with the most power left in magic. Prince Garald trains more knights to guard the realm.

Times are difficult. Though at first Garald was viewed as a savior, he has come to be reviled. Smythe, in exile on Earth, has his followers upon Thimhallan and they foment unrest among the lower cla.s.ses, foretelling the coming of the end of the world unless Smythe is permitted to return to save it.

The Hch'nyv have attacked outposts and are closing in on Earth. Smythe is secretly plotting with the Hch'nyv, agreeing to give them Earth if he is given Thimhallan. The Hch'nyv have no intention of honoring the agreement, planning to kill Smythe as soon as he hands over the Darksword, which their own Diviners have warned them means ultimate defeat.

Taking the form of an angel, Scylla appears to Bishop Radisovik and warns him of a great doom coming to all peoples on Earth and Thimhallan. The Darksword must be taken to the tomb of Merlyn and this must be done by Joram's descendant, Queen Eliza. Radisovik informs King Garald. At the same time a messenger arrives from General Boris, telling of the Hch'nyv's approach. Garald is convinced of its truth.

Garald sends the Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith for Father Saryon. Garald explains their desperate situation and begs Saryon to reveal the location of the Darksword. Saryon at length agrees, but he will give it into the hands only of the heir. Garald gives his word of honor that this will happen. for Father Saryon. Garald explains their desperate situation and begs Saryon to reveal the location of the Darksword. Saryon at length agrees, but he will give it into the hands only of the heir. Garald gives his word of honor that this will happen.

More and more people are being drawn under Smythe's sway. Mobs roam the countryside. Eliza, guarded by her knights, travels to Zith-el. On the way, the carriage is attacked. Alerted ahead of time, the Queen; her house catalyst, Reuven; her Enforcer, Mosiah; and one of her knights, Scylla, sneak in the side gate.

They are met in the forest by Father Saryon, who guides them to the cave of the Dragon of Night.

The dragon recognizes Saryon, who introduces Eliza. She goes forward to recover the sword. As she picks it up Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith appear in the cavern. They do not believe Radisovik's vision of the angel, they think that the Hch'nyv are part of a plot designed by the Technomancers. The appear in the cavern. They do not believe Radisovik's vision of the angel, they think that the Hch'nyv are part of a plot designed by the Technomancers. The Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith have deposed King Garald and taken up rulership of the world. They demand the Darksword. have deposed King Garald and taken up rulership of the world. They demand the Darksword.

Eliza raises the sword to defend herself. The Darksword begins to draw Life from the Duuk-tsarith. Duuk-tsarith. The sword's null-magic breaks the charmed hold Saryon has on the dragon. The sword's null-magic breaks the charmed hold Saryon has on the dragon.

The Dragon of Night kills Eliza and everyone in the cave. The dragon hurls the Darksword into the deepest part of the River Famirish.

The Hch'nyv destroy Earth and Thimhallan. The human race is extinct.

THE SECOND TIME LINE.

Saryon and Reuven travel to Thimhallan from Earth to meet Joram. They warn him of the coming of the Hch'nyv. Saryon tries to persuade Joram to return to Earth with his family.

Fearing that this is a trick to steal the Darksword, Joram refuses.

His daughter, Eliza, steals the Darksword during the night. She leaves the house, intending to take the sword to the military outpost, hand it over to the people of Earth. Reuven sees her leave and, realizing her danger, goes after her.

The Technomancers arrive, confront Joram, and demand that he hand over the Darksword. Joram seeks the weapon in its hiding place, discovers that it is gone. Eliza is gone as well. Joram realizes what has happened. He battles the Technomancers and is joined in his fight by Mosiah, who has been keeping Joram and his family under guard.

The Technomancers capture Joram and Father Saryon. They are about to capture Gwen, but she is rescued by the dead, who take her away to their realm.

Scylla finds Reuven and Eliza. They return to the house, discover Mosiah, and hear that Joram has been captured by the Technomancers. Smythe appears and tells Eliza that he will exchange her father's life for the sword. She is to meet him in Zith-el, where the Technomancers have their headquarters.

Scylla, Eliza, and Mosiah travel to Zith-el, accompanied by Simkin, in the form of a teddy bear.

Eliza and her escort reach the gate. An Interrogator, disguised as Gwen, tricks Eliza into giving up the Darksword.

Mosiah recognizes the Interrogator, seizes the Darksword, and hurls it into the gate. He, Reuven, and Eliza enter the gate and run straight into the arms of the waiting Technomancers.

In the ensuing battle, Eliza is killed. The Technomancers seize the Darksword. They transport it and their prisoners to Earth.

Despondent over the death of his beloved daughter, blaming himself, Joram dies of his wounds on the trip back.

The Hch'nyv attack Earth. Kevon Smythe hands over the Darksword, expects his life to be spared.

It isn't.

The Hch'nyv destroy Earth and Thimhallan. The human race is wiped out.

THE THIRD TIME LINE.

As you know, having read the book, Scylla managed, by jumping between time lines, to create a third time line, one in which we had a chance to survive. Simkin was the key and Scylla admitted that she herself didn't know until the very end whether he would help us or blithely cast us all aside.

"We were fortunate that the Technomancers lost no opportunity to insult him. As As he told Smythe, they didn't believe in him," Scylla said. "In the end, that's why he decided to help." he told Smythe, they didn't believe in him," Scylla said. "In the end, that's why he decided to help."

Not even she knew, or so she claims, that Simkin had taken the form of the Darksword. But thinking back, I realize now that was why the dragon complained so bitterly of the sword's bright light, hurting its eyes. The dragon could see more than we could, apparently.

As for the Darksword itself, does it still lie in some cave back on flame-ravaged Thimhallan?

We will not discover the answer in our lifetime, but who knows? Perhaps, when thousands of years have pa.s.sed and the Hch'nyv have been vanquished by some more powerful race, one of our descendants might read this book of mine and return to Thimhallan, to Zith-el, to the cave of the dragon. . . .