PALE REIGN OVER GESHEM - CHAPTER 36:EPILOGUE
      Now then, what are we to do with the
three of you?'
     They stood in the anteroom where the Pale
Man had once captured the Queen in a spell.  The
three doppelgangers were there, Scott still
wearing the Basilisk Mask.  With them were the
Mage, and of course Stephanie, standing close by
the Prelate, who was still recovering from the
effects of Cyclops' blast, the Shaman, and the
Prince-Consort.  Seated on a large wooden chair
was the queen.  She sat not from royal pretense,
but because she was pregnant, and all agreed the
royal heir had been put at risk enough over the
last month.
     Cyclops answered her first.
      If it's all the same, your highness, I'd
just as soon you sent me home.  I have a wife
who must be furious at me by now.'
     The Shaman faced Cyclops.  His eyes were
as searching as Professor Xavier's, his manner
just as commanding.
      We owe you a debt that can never be
repaid.  Again, your world has provided us with
salvation in an hour of darkness.
     Cyclops turned to the Prelate.  Through
ruby quartz visors, the two men studied each
other for a moment, seeing an impossible glimpse
of a world that might have been.  Cyclops held
out his hand, the Prelate took it.  The grip was
brief, firm, and said all that needed to be
said.
     Cyclops turned to Scott and grinned.
      Don't let the twins wear you out.'  Then
to the Hunter,  It's been a pleasure, Stephanie. 
As a friend of mine would have said, you're a
pistol and a firecracker... on any world.'
     The Queen touched her consort's arm and he
stepped forward.  Cyclops looked at this young
man, so like the Doug Ramsey of his own world,
but allowed to become so much more.  Douglas
held out a necklace in the shape of a wolf's
head.
      As we cannot adequately thank you, please
accept this.'
     The Queen rose to her feet and rested her
hand on his shoulder.  Douglas drew forth his
sword, the Shard of Kym, reclaimed from where it
had pierced the Heart.  He handed the blade to
the queen.  She tapped Cyclops on both
shoulders.
      I hereby name thee knight of Geshem.  May
the Land remain in your heart, as you shall be
forever in ours.'
     Cyclops bowed, then turned to the Mage.
     The Mage stepped forward.  He had healed
somewhat from the wasting spell that had
afflicted him, though the scarring might never
fully fade.
      My colleagues talk too much.  Thank you.
Good journey home.'
     Blue fire danced across his fingers, and
Cyclops disappeared.
     Scott Summers stepped forward.  His hand
touched the Basilisk mask.
      My Queen... this man must return home.  I
am grateful for this final chance to serve you. 
I commit myself now to the void.'
     "Is there no other way, High Lord?', there
was sorrow in the Queen's voice,  the High Lords
are gone, but the realm needs you.'
      When my Lady Jehane died, I died,
majesty.  I am but grateful some part of me held
on long enough to see you restored.  My brother
Alexander shall stand in my stead.  Farewell.' 
     He bowed deeply.  Scott felt a pang of
regret and relief as his arms, not at all under
his own control, lifted the mask off his face. 
The presence of the High Lord Summerisle faded
from his mind, leaving only the faintest echo.
     *Fare thee well my otherself.  You are a
warrior born... milady, I join you now...*
     Scott blinked.  The presence in his mind
was gone.
     The Queen spoke.
      Again, our debt to you may never be
repaid, Scott Summers, but we name you as well,
a knight of Geshem.'
     The Prince-Consort placed another amulet
about Scott's neck.  Scott looked around
himself, staring at the faces, so very sure this
would all soon fade to a particularly vivid
dream.  His hands shook slightly as he handed
the queen the Basilisk Mask.
     He looked at the Prelate longest, the man
looked back, his face a careful blank.  Scott
turned to the Mage.
      Send me home... please.'
      Scott,' he turned as the Prelate said his
name,  you did good.  We'd all be dead without
you.'
     Scott Summers could only nod his head...
his voice was barely a whisper.
      Thanks.'
     The Mage waved his hand and it was done. 
The Queen and Prince-Consort walked to face the
Prelate.  Her voice was warm, here eyes meeingt
those of the Hunter briefly before returning to
the one red lens.
      And now for our debt to you, Prelate
Summers...'
     The Prelate's mouth set into a hard line. 
He had already made up his mind... he wasn't
going back, not to a world that, as far as he
could tell, no longer existed from the moment he
had been torn away from it.  
      ...at the Hunter's suggestion, the Shaman
has made a discovery.'
     The older man spoke, his eyes fixed to the
Prelate's single eye.
      When the Mage pulled you and your
doppelgangers to our world, he used a spell to
avoid the paradox of three of the same beings
existing in one realm where they already
existed...'
      But your Lord Summerisle was already
dead.'
      Yes, and the physical remnants of his
body became the templates for the spell to bring
you here.  Also, he pulled you from different
points on the timeline, to further avoid
disaster.'
     The Shaman nodded to the Mage, who
continued. 
      I can extend the spell to anchor you
here... in this world.  Lord Summerisle is dead
and his soul passed, but there is enough trace
of his spirit melded to the Land, and we may
give that to you..'  He trailed off and the
Queen picked up the explanation.
      ...by giving you this.' 
     She held out the Basilisk Mask.
     Prelate Scott Summers was speechless.  He
looked from face to face, and his eye rested
finally on Stephanie.  
      Don't even consider arguing, Scott.' she
said.
     The Queen grinned.
      Scott Summers, I call upon you to
relinquish your rank of Prelate.  It is a
vestige of a world no longer yours.  I call upon
you to accept the title of Knight of Geshem, and
to wear the Basilisk Mask in service to the
Land, its people, and their queen.'
     He still didn't know what to say. 
Stephanie poked him in the side, jabbing him
where the force-storm had bruised ribs.
      Kneel and accept, fool, or next time I
use a knife.'
     In spite of himself and the pain, he
grinned and kneeled.  The Queen tapped him on
both shoulders with the sword, and Stephanie
removed his one eyed visor.  He closed his eyes
by reflex, and felt the Basilisk Mask slide over
his face.   Still looking at the ground, Scott
Summers, once Prelate in an Age that never came
to pass, opened his eye.
     The mask worked as did his visor, but now
there was something else, a tingling in the back
of his head, that could only be the magic of the
Land.  
     *This will take some getting used to.*, he
thought.
      Thus do we repay our debt to you.' the
Queen said.
      And what of your debt to _us_?' broke in
a harsh voice.
     She faded into the room from behind a
curtain.  Katherine, thief and wearer of the
shadowsuit, looked tired and bitter.  There were
hard lines about her eyes that hadn't been there
when the Prelate had seen her last.  He also
noticed she wasn't wearing her knives.
     *Probably a good idea, in this company.*
     The Consort stepped in front of his queen,
but the Hunter rested a restraining hand on his
arm.  The Mage and the Shaman watched with
interest.
     Scott recalled when he had seen her last,
in the tunnels beneath the castle. When they had
surfaced from the struggle below via a
teleportation spell, courtesy of the Shaman,
they had emerged into the courtyard to find an
overjoyed Prince-Consort leading an army of
resistance fighters and armed refugees.  Douglas
had swept his queen up in his arms and kissed
her soundly, to the joyful cheers of those
amassed in the courtyard.
     The thieves had been conspicuous only by
their absence.
     The Prelate had searched for the Gambler's
body, but failed to find it.
     Lustre's body had been brought to the
surface and laid with those of the fallen High
Lords and knights for a heroes burial, but the
corpse had vanished.
      The thieves of Geshem lost their prince
and his lady to restore you to your throne, your
highness,' The title held little respect,  how
do you intend to make good?'
     The queen stepped around her consort.  Her
eyes met Katherine's hard stare evenly.
      The thieves suffered no more than did all
those who fell beneath the Pale Man's heel. 
They fought back no less than all righteous
people of the Land did.  I will give amnesty for
crimes past to any who wish it.  What more would
you have?'
     Katherine stared back at the queen, then
shifted her eyes to the Prelate.
      I understand you'll be staying.  When
royalty starts to bore you, find me.  I can
always use a talented individual... in my
thieves.'
     The Hunter looked shocked.
      You...?'
      Aye, me, Hunter.  I lead the thieves of
Geshem now.  And I don't hold to the loyalties
of the Gambler.  Watch your purse strings, your
highness.  I'll be seeing you.'
     She stepped back into the shadows of the
room and faded from sight.  The Shaman lifted
his hand, but the queen stopped him with a wave.
      Let her go, Shaman.  We owe her that
much.'
      As you wish, highness.'
     Queen Rain of Geshem turned to them all.
      We have saved the Land.  Let us remain
forever on our guard, that we should never step
this close to the end of all we hold dear again. 
And now, if you will excuse me, my beloved is
getting that overprotective father-to-be look.'
     The Prince-Consort grinned and took her
arm, leading her from the room.  The Shaman and
the Mage took their leave as well, deep in
conversation as they went.
     Stephanie, the Mage's Hunter, and Scott
Summers, knight of Geshem looked at one another.
      You weren't really going to stab me, were
you?'
      Just see to it you never give me a
reason, Scott.'
     He wasn't used to the new title yet, but
he decided he would be eventually.  She moved
across the room to him, and he decided he had
many, many new things to get used to.  And for
the first time, he had hope.
          *         *         *
     Alex walked through the streets of the
city.  It had taken some time, but his mother
had moved them back into their proper quarters
in the castle where his father had once been
majordomo.  A doctor had been found to treat
Katie, and their mother's spirits had lifted for
the first time since they had been driven from
the castle. 
     The only problem now, was that he really
didn't know what to do with himself.  He had two
years yet before they would let him join the
Queen's army, so his dream of one day being a
knight had to wait.
      Greetings... kid.'
     He recognized the voice, and this time, he
managed to hide his shock at her sudden
appearance.
     Katherine leaned against the wall of an
alley, idly flipping a knife, end over blade, in
one hand.
      Looking to for something to pass the
time?', Alex stared at her,  I have a job
opening or two.' 
     Suddenly, Alex wondered if maybe two years
was too long to wait for another adventure.
          *         *         *
      Lass, ye've been here for days.  If there
was anything ta sense, ye'd have done so.'
     Her name was Jean Grey-Summers, code-named
Phoenix, partly for her tendency to be very,
very hard to kill.  She had arrived at the
Xavier Academy within hours of hearing of her
husband's disappearance.  Cerebro had failed to
find him, and the X-men were using every
resource available to try and find out what had
happened to their field leader.  Jean had led
the search, then at the Professor's insistence,
had returned to the mansion, only to come back
to the academy in the need to be doing
_something_.
      Dammit, Sean, there has to be some trace,
some hint we've missed.'
      If there is, we'll find it, Jean.  Ye
know Charles and the others won't rest until we
do.'
      He's not dead, Sean.  I'd feel it if he
were.  Its more like he's... just... just so
very far away... like...'
     She had been about to say "the other side
of the universe" when her eyes suddenly went
wide.  Without a word, she turned and ran from
the room, into the hallway and towards the
biosphere.  Banshee was moments behind her, but
from the expression on her face, he already knew
what they would find.
     He rounded the corner just behind Jean,
but the reunion was already in progress. 
Banshee made a mental note to get the whole
story later... there had to be a good reason why
Cyclops had returned dressed like an extra from
"Robin Hood"... and pressed his com-badge.  Emma
Frost's voice came through.
      Before you ask, yes, its really him and
yes, he's fine.  I've already called Xavier and
the others.'
      That's fine Emma... that's just fine.'
     Sean turned back to see if Jean and Scott
had stopped kissing yet.  He need not have
bothered.
          *         *         *
     He woke up sitting on soft grass, leaning
against a tree.  It all looked so familiar, he
was sure he had been sent back to the forest
where he had arrived in Geshem. 
     Panic rose in his chest.  He jumped to his
feet, and something bounced against his chest.
     Scott Summers looked down, and saw the
Wolf's Head amulet.  His hand gripped it, and a
booming noise pulled his eyes skyward.  Even as
he looked, he knew what he'd see.  As a pilot,
he easily recognized the sound of a 747
ascending to cruising altitude.  A moment
longer, and he heard car horns, truck engines,
and a police siren.
     Scott Summers took a deep breath, and
started for home, praying he could come up with
a good way to explain his new cloths.  After
five minutes, he gave up.  If he was very lucky,
Lee and the kids hadn't called home from Alaska
too many times, and he could come up with a
halfway believable reason for not answering the
phone.
     The cloths, he was just going to burn. 
The amulet... well, maybe he'd keep it.
          *         *         *
     *Your plan failed.*
     *Indeed.  The Land's defenders are
strong.*
     *And what of your fallen servant?*
     *His soul was ever mine.  I claim it for
what little power it brings me.*
     *Will you try again?*
     *Of course.  This was but one ploy of
many.  The magic of the Land will return me to
my rightful place in the heavens.   It is mine
by right.  I will claim it someday, and on that
day, Geshem will meet its apocalypse.*

                THE END