He wore emerald-green silk breeches and a short, matching jacket that lay partially open to reveal his chest. Black leather sandals adorned his feet. The hard, smooth muscles of his body rippled every time he called upon them, as if even they had somehow also been enhanced by his recent transformation. His sandy blond hair was still tied behind his neck, but the old worn leather strap had been replaced with a narrow, flat band of solid gold.

His sessions with Krassus finally complete, Wulfgar was now protected by the time enchantments. He was also fully committed-heart, blood, and mind-not only to the exclusive practice of the Vagaries, but also to the work that his nephew Nicholas had begun, but was unable to finish. As yet, however, the dying wizard had not told him what that was to be.

Krassus reached down and gently placed one of his palms on Serena's abdomen. As he closed his eyes, a smile came to his lips.

"She is pregnant," he said, opening his eyes again. "Well done. Your firstborn is to be a daughter."

"I know," Wulfgar answered quietly. "Serena has been with child for only a few hours. I saw the azure glow gather around her the moment conception took place. It is good that this happened during, rather than after, the gifting of her blood. For now the child will be born with many of her mother's Forestallments intact, and will thereby be spared the painful process of their installation."

Wulfgar looked again at the woman he so loved. Serena's strong, beautiful face was placid in sleep, framed by the dark ringlets that spilled gracefully down over her shoulders and breasts. She wore a black, full-length gown of the finest satin, with matching, bowed slippers on her feet. Pure gold adorned her delicate throat, wrists, and fingers.

She was a true queen, Wulfgar thought. Worthy of standing by his side in their coming struggle with the Chosen Ones.

"She will command powers of the Vagaries that are virtually unheard of," Krassus said. "Only you will be more powerful." Picking up one of Serena's hands, Krassus held it as though it were made of the finest porcelain.

"It is now her time in history, as well as yours," the wizard continued softly. "Awaken her, Wulfgar. Let her finally see the world through her newborn eyes."

This time it was her lover's turn to touch her. Placing his palm on her forehead, Wulfgar watched her eyes flutter softly and open. Immediately she looked up into Wulfgar's face and smiled. He reached out his hand. Grasping it, she slowly sat up on the table. Then she placed her satin slippers on the marble floor and stood up.

Without hesitation she threw her head back and stretched her body like a cat. Breathing deeply, she smiled again, clearly reveling in her newfound power. Without hesitation, she purposefully walked closer to Wulfgar, placed her arms around him, and kissed him on the lips.

"Thank you, my lord," she said simply as she drew one of her long, freshly painted nails down his cheek. "Thank you for granting me the time enchantments. And for so generously opening the psychic portals of the Vagaries and exposing their many wonders to my mind. Now I am able to serve you not only with my heart, but also with my endowed blood. I shall be forever grateful." Suddenly her eyes went wide, and she took a quick breath of realization.

"Oh…," she exclaimed, as she placed one hand on her belly. Then she looked back up to him and smiled again. "A girl. It truly seems there is no end to the gifts my lover has bestowed on me."

Krassus held his hands out to them, and they each took one. "Come with me," he said simply. Walking them over to a pair of marble double doors, he employed the craft, and they swung open.

Still holding hands, the three of them walked out onto a broad balcony overlooking the Sea of Whispers. The red-orange ball of the sun was descending into the ocean, and the night birds called softly to one another. A gentle sea breeze swirled up, bathing everything in its fresh, clean scent.

Turning around, Krassus looked them both in the eyes.

"From this point forward your lives and your blood are inextricably bound to each other," he said solemnly. "And all of what you see before you I bequeath to you and your heirs, just as my late master Nicholas told me to do if he perished in his travails at the hands of the Chosen Ones. This Citadel, the fleet, the demonslavers, the Brotherhood of Consuls, and the island that provides them safe haven are all yours, as are all of the many creatures of the Vagaries that call this sacred isle their home, whether they be of the surrounding earth, sea, or sky. Protected by the time enchantments, from here you will forever perpetuate the Vagaries and strive to destroy the Vigors. Never forget that your enemies-the so-called Chosen Ones and their wizards-shall endeavor to annihilate you from their lair in Eutracia. And so you shall do the same to them from your new home, here in the Citadel." Smiling at them both, Krassus took a deep breath of the sweet sea air.

Almost immediately his coughing began.

This time it was far worse than Wulfgar had ever seen. Krassus leaned weakly against the short balcony wall as his hacking went on in great, uncontrollable spasms. Finally, after what seemed forever, it abated.

Krassus turned around to face them again. His chin and the front of his blue-and-gray robe were covered with blood. Concerned, Wulfgar reached out to steady him, but Krassus waved him away.

"Do not be concerned for me," he said hoarsely as he produced a rag from his robes and began to clean himself. "As far as my existence in this lesser world is concerned, all is as my master said it would be. This malady I am stricken with-my fatal gift from Nicholas-will soon completely overtake me. I estimate that I have scant time remaining before you two are left here without me, to accomplish all that has been ordained by the son of the Chosen One. Only two duties remain for me now before I go to the Afterlife: to secure the Scroll of the Vigors, and to instruct you in your mission." Letting go another short cough, he slowly turned back toward the sea.

"Grizelda and Janus remain unheard from, however," he said softly, the concern showing in his voice. "But even if they already had the scroll, it would take them fifteen days to return it to us. Therefore, we shall use the time wisely." When he turned back to them, it seemed he had regained a bit of his strength. He smiled and looked to Wulfgar.

"First I suggest you show your new queen the wonders of this place," he said. "She will be seeing it all as if for the first time, and there is much to learn about its workings. After you have finished, please join me in my private quarters for dinner, and we will begin the first of our discussions regarding your futures. Tonight, finally, you are to learn why you have been brought here, and why all of this has come about."

Looking across the room, Krassus pointed one hand at the still-hovering Scroll of the Vagaries. It stopped glowing and then rolled itself up. As soon as it finished collecting itself, the familiar golden band with the Old Eutracian engraving rose from a nearby table and floated across to slide down over one end of the scroll. Then the bound scroll flew across the room into the wizard's arms.

Satisfied, Krassus gave them both a short bow. "As I said, the Citadel, and everything in it, is now at your beck and call. Until later." Without further ado, he walked slowly from the room.

After the wizard had left, Wulfgar took Serena's hand. "We shall take Krassus up on his suggestion." Looking into her eyes, he could see that they were alight with curiosity, just as his had been after Krassus had finally turned him to the Vagaries and first shown him the true wonders of this place.

"Come with me," he said gently. He ran the back of his fingers down one of her cheeks. "There is much to show you." Leading her from the stark Scriptorium, he took her down a flight of stairs.