"More than this, today I intend to rebuild my family. The royal house of Ithyria has been torn apart by a web of treachery, greed, and murder. Today this comes to an end."

Qiturah stepped forward and held up the baby so that those positioned in the palace grounds could see her.

"This child is the seed of my kinsman, Kumire Fickettis of Rane. Though her father was my enemy, she is my cousin by blood, and from this day forward she will be honored as my daughter and heir to my throne." Confused muttering spread through the people, but Shasta kept speaking. "In this way I hope to finally heal my shattered family line and unify our broken kingdom once more. The new Ithyria that we all wish for can only be brought about through love and cooperation."

Qiturah lowered the baby back into her arms. Lyris approached with the silver cup of purification, the holy goblet blessed by the Goddess. Shasta dipped her fingers into the water and traced them on the baby's forehead. She spoke into the metal cone again.

"I hereby bequeath to you my birthright, my title, my crown...and the never-ending love of a mother for her child." She indicated that the Honored Mother should lift the child again. "My people, I present to you the Crown Princess Bria Talon Shastis of Ithyria. May she grow to serve you even better than I."

A tumultuous cheer rose from the crowd and reverberated against the palace walls. Shasta caught Talon's eye and beamed. Though it was unlikely that everyone would accept her decision to adopt Kumire's baby as her own, their current audience was swept away by the excitement of the moment. The announcement of the adoption had stirred the people's imaginations. Given time, Shasta was certain that eventually little Bria would win over the hearts of the kingdom, just as she had already won hers.

Talon felt a tap on her shoulder, and Lyris smiled at her from behind her veils. "The Goddess was right after all," she said, and her eyes flickered to the baby in the Honored Mother's arms. "One day, your child will take the throne."

Talon could do nothing but shake her head. "The one time Ithyris wasn't being cryptic, and it still turned out like the answer to a riddle."

She grinned, still scarcely able to believe that all of this was real. Only four winters ago she had been a ragged, starving street performer. Now she was captain of the Ithyrian royal guard, and what was more, she had somehow managed to win the love of the most amazing woman she had ever known.

She moved to Shasta's side. "And now, my love," she murmured into her ear, "now we have our fairy-tale ending."

Shasta looked up, her amber eyes shining. "And a whole new beginning."

As the sun set on the western horizon, painting the sky in crimson and gold, Qiturah delivered baby Bria into Shasta's waiting arms. Together Talon and Shasta turned to wave at the cheering crowds below. The days to come would bring a grand time of rebirth for all of Ithyria: powerful changes and new adventures in the making. Talon could hardly wait.

Epilogue.

Ulrike has failed. The Goddess still possesses firm control of Her lands, and though She has not yet managed to fully banish Her brother's influence, the plans he has laid so carefully for centuries have now been thwarted utterly. Even as I rejoice at our Divine Lady's triumph, in my heart I sense that the war between the Gods is far from over.

Our young Queen will have her hands full rebuilding the damage that the past centuries have wrought upon this kingdom. Her vision for a new Ithyria is a noble one, ripe with the hopes and dreams of our people, and I pray she will be allowed the time she needs before the God of the Flesh strikes out again.

In the meantime, Ithyris has grown silent. Perhaps She, too, is recovering from the strain of recent battle. My heart aches to hear Her sweet voice in my ear once more, yet I know that when it is time, She will return to guide us through whatever is coming next, just as She always has.

Strange-as I held the child Bria in my arms at the coronation, I was struck with the certainty that this infant girl will mean more to Ithyria than any of us can imagine. She is a peculiar child, with the amber eyes of Rane and the dark skin of an Outlander. Somehow I feel that this one tiny babe holds a powerful connection to the destiny of our kingdom.

I cannot help but think that the story of our people is only just beginning.

end.