In the fading Suen summer, Halfmoon parked a few miles from Ah’nee’thit’s Temple. Music drifted out of the temple, and partiers spread over the lawn.

Camellia spotted a dozen Iruedian officials from Tagtrum, Ponk, and Groaza. She also saw many people she did not recognize, including several confused Textilers, now pardoned because the mission had been so successful – and because Inez had made the deal in the first place. The only catch was that their more detailed spells had to be reviewed by a party of government mages. Otherwise, they could keep operating as a guild, minus creature research.

Nearly everyone from Rooks’ crew gathered, especially those involved in the groundwork to defeat Ul’thetos.

Camellia spotted Alim. He eyed a guest from Ponk, a young woman. Camellia didn’t know her, but she wished Alim luck.

Camellia searched the crowd for Inez and Eder. She found the siblings together. Both smiled wide and entertained a gathering of mages. Standing by a fallen pillar, they laughed, but Camellia was too far to hear over the party sounds.

Next, she caught the eye of Rooks. The Commander wore a dark blue ballgown, with her hair down in natural curls. Camellia smiled. Commander Rooks seemed relaxed, given her distress at her new title. Rooks’ new fleet was something of a museum exhibit, and Camellia jokingly called her Curator Rooks. The term stuck.

Camellia was proud to know the new leader of the Iruedian space navy. No one had opposed Rooks’ new position. No one had the experience to fill the position like Rooks. So long as representatives from every country made it onto the ships, the governments were happy. Given the size of the current Lurrien colony, the ships would need everyone: Lurrien, Groazan, Tagtrumian, and Ponk.

For now, just those four countries were involved, but the AAH worked on compiling a list of known countries that should be offered the chance to join. Soon, there would also be unknown countries on that list as explorers and anthropologists moved south.

With the aid of spaceships, they would quickly rediscover lost peoples, and go further than anyone had been in three thousand years. At least, on Iruedim. Camellia, Meladee, and Eva currently held the record for farthest journey.

Near Rooks, Camellia saw Sten and Eva. Both had been elected to Lurren’s new government, consisting of a mere six individuals. Sten gladly accepted the position. Eva had balked but been unable to decline. Three of Rooks’ crew had secured government positions, and the final member was the synthetic Leonidus. Camellia wondered if that was Eva’s reason for her reluctance, but she knew better.

Eva wanted her time to herself, at least some of it. Eva hadn’t made anything just for the pleasure of doing so in over one hundred years. Not one robot, toy, or even a simple device. Camellia had confidence that even with the new job, Eva would make the time.

Meladee and Benham strolled past Camellia. They gave her short waves, and Meladee beckoned for Camelia to join.

Camellia shook her head.

Meladee and Benham owned three ships, and they had already made quite a bit of money, shipping necrotic flesh spaceward and ferrying people to and from Lurren. Halfmoon earned the prestigious ferry jobs, and Mountaineer got stuck with flesh shipment, much to Benham’s objection. Faustina became a private pleasure ship, which seemed fitting for the old girl.

Meladee shrugged. She and Benham walked on.

“May I escort you inside?” Florian asked, coming down from Halfmoon’s ramp.

She smiled. “Yes, I’ve been waiting for you.” Camellia took his arm.

“It’s all over and done with,” Florian said.

“Yes.”

Thanks to Alim’s research, the infection had been cleared from many of Ah’nee’thit’s afflicted cultists. The rest were unfortunately euthanized. The uninfected cultists had fully recovered. Though, the mages’ reputations suffered a little, all of the AAH members had been welcomed back and offered counseling.

Camellia even sent people to check on her father’s farm, and they found it infection free. Her father was furious and promised to never speak to her again, but he was uninfected.

Ul’thetos was dead, and its remains would be cleared from Lurren in a year or two.

Ah’nee’thit was gone as well, but the little creature was not dead. It was on its way. Shot through a temporary wormhole aimed right at a solar system with an uninhabited planet of warm oceans.

Rooks and a small team of communications officers had sent a signal to the planet and scanned it for life forms. They found only amoebas and other cellular organisms.

Perfect friends for Ah’nee’thit. I hope.

Camellia wondered whether the creature would be lonely. Maybe, its telepathy, given the chance to develop, could reach farther than a continent. Maybe, a mate would come its way, or some other cosmic being. There was time for that kind of adventure. Camellia smiled. She had kept her promise.

“You’re very quiet,” Florian said. “May I ask what you’re thinking about?”

“You may.” Camellia walked and held his arm. “I’m just thinking about what Ah’nee’thit might do with its new planet, and all of the things our friends have planned for the future.”

Florian nodded. “Ah, of course. My plans for the future include resuming my duties as head of the AAH. I’ll be staying put for a while and just when so many new places to explore have become available.”

“That’s right. I’m so sorry. Maybe, you could take a leave and…”

“No, Camellia. I can wait. I hope to live a long life, and for the time being, I’m going to fulfill my commitment to the AAH. Besides, fantastic papers will parade across my desk. I may not discover these peoples myself, but I’ll have an eye on everything.” Florian looked down at Camellia. He smiled, but it was a sad smile. “Maybe, you’ll soon head to one of these far flung Iruedian countries.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure,” Camellia said.

“Why is that?”

As the sun set, Camellia could hear Florian’s heart beat faster.

Camellia liked the sound. “I...I was thinking of being a restorationist for a while.”

Florian seemed both disappointed and content. “To stay by me? Camellia, you don’t have to. You’re a fully reinstated anthropologist, and nothing could occur that would make it otherwise. Well, not nothing…”

Camellia felt warm. “I know. I want a rest. There should be no shortage of things for me to put back together, or create.”

“No, there shouldn’t,” he agreed.

Camellia looked into the distance, staring past the party. “And, when you are free to travel, there will be hundreds of places we’ve never seen. If experiments with the wormhole succeed, and we find a way to shift the wormhole’s exit on our command, we could see anything.”

Her journeys would be minus a couple of people – important ones – but she didn’t have to forget them.

Cernunnos. Rodica.

And, as time went on, there would be new important people, and they could join Camellia in her adventures.

In the dark of space, Ah’nee’thit drifted and dreamed. Ah’nee’thit sat inside the Cleydef in a state of hibernation. The time seemed short enough, encased in its tough black shell.

It was a good place, High Priestess, Ah’nee’thit said to its dream version of Camellia. You are the best High Priestess I have ever had. No one is likely to top you, but that place was not my style. It was not for me. This one is much better.

Though Ah’nee’thit had been given limited fuel, only enough to reach the chosen planet, Ah’nee’thit had cast the spells necessary to replenish that fuel. And, even in a dream state, Ah’nee’thit had chosen a new home for itself.

Now, Ah’nee’thit reached its mind towards a green and blue planet, picking up stray thoughts and transmissions.

These people will do. And, this place, so warm, getting warmer still.

Ah’nee’thit monitored the planet and masked its own presence with a spell of cloaking. Ah’nee’thit would make sure the Cleydef headed in at night and towards a warm, peaceful ocean. Then, after a few short months of underwater growth, Ah’nee’thit would greet the population.

Yes, this is just right.

Oooooo. Ah’nee’thit caught its favorite type of transmission. This is my jam...