26

Lord Life, Leiko, and the trainees formed a solemn procession on the approach to the Fortress. Lord Life’s face was sombre as he supported one side of Lady Danae’s stretcher. Leiko held the other grip.

One of the guards in the tower saw the procession as it drew close.

“Something’s wrong, mate,” he told his colleague. “Sound the trumpet!”

The trumpet sounded and the Great Gate rolled open. Felicia was in the stables when she heard the trumpet and was immediately alert. Jumping on her horse bareback, she rode to the Gate, where the guards were running from their quarters to help their leader.

Lord Life refused to let the stretcher be taken from him.

“Take the Cyclops to the hospital,” he ordered. “Call Doctor Afterland. And with the utmost speed, send forces to my house to carry Pegasus here. He’s been poisoned! Let’s hope he’ll still be alive.”

Felicia pulled her horse to a stop, jumped down, and ran to her Father, hardly daring to believe what she could see. She drew a deep breath. Then, without a word, she joined the stretcher bearers as tears formed in her eyes.

The procession continued, each bearer walking proud and tall through the streets of Utopia. When Bull arrived, he stepped up and made a fourth bearer. With every step, they were joined by crowds of people. By the time they reached the Theatre, the whole of Utopia was encircling them, sharing their grief.

Silently, the huge procession filled the Theatre. Everyone, other than the sentries at their posts, had joined by the time the stretcher bearers walked the final few steps. Nobody spoke. The birds stopped singing but a large flock gathered in the skies above the stretcher and the crowd, over the last resting place of their Queen. Soon, there were hundreds of them, flying low, like a multicoloured cloud cloaking the mournful sun. The trees lowered their branches in respect. The wind in their leaves held its breath. All was still and silent.

The procession entered the amphitheatre. They lay the stretcher down in front of the shocked Wise Tree. Felicia left the group, walking away with her head held high. She entered the broadcasting station and stood by the transmitter.

“People of Utopia. In the middle of the night, the forces of Evil poisoned Pegasus, who is now struggling to live. They burned Leiko’s and Lord Life’s houses and launched an attack. The battle was fierce but the Orizons prevailed. All trainees have survived, as have Leiko and my Father. Alas, the Lady Danae was killed. As of now, we are at war. Rules - thousands of years old - have been violated. From today, all minors and non-combatants will move inside the Fortress. It will be cramped, but safe. Look outs will be posted. Lord Life has sent a message to King Turgoth to call for a meeting on neutral ground. Until Pegasus recovers, we cannot communicate with the Gods to let them know of the situation.”

***

Later, at the sacred garden, Lord Life was digging a grave beneath a majestic palm. Lady Danae’s body - with Felicia kneeling next to it - lay on the stretcher beside the grave. Bull and Leiko were also present as Lord Life finished his task. Bull stood guard with Lady Danae’s sword lying ready and a jug of water next to it. He respectfully knelt and lifted her body, passing her to Lord Life.

Lord Life kissed his love for the last time. He lay her in the grave and started to fill it in as the others watched. Once it was filled, he shaped the mound. Bull handed him the jug and he sprinkled water over it by hand.

He passed the jug back to Bull, who pulled out a packet of seeds and gave them to Lord Life and Felicia. Father and daughter tenderly, carefully, sowed each seed.

Bull handed Lady Danae’s sword to Lord Life. He thrust it deep in the earth at the head of the grave. Then, all four of them stood by their resting Queen in silence.