Page 189 of Keeper of the Word

The Second will know strength and pain

And know the secrets of how sin is slain

Third will possessthe star of dawn

And lift shadow’s curse holding strong

The valiant star of the Fourth’s fate

Is to See the only key that may open the gate

The Seerof stars who is to be last

Has the greatest of all the impossible tasks

To bring forth the true sovereign foretold

Who must mark his path, singular and gold

Only then canthe Five combine their Sight

Else Asalle shall ne’er come to the Light

The brilliance of hope shall thus be regained

And will See that good is preordained

For two,once one, torn with blood red

Will reunite with Asalle at its head

The Capella Realm anew and once more alive

Put to right by the Stars of the Five

The radiance vanished,and the Five were left endeavoring to retain the gleam of the prophecy’s missive. Though they hadcollapsed, Elanna still held Tara’s and Maristel’s hands as she regained herself. The scent of blood stung her nose.

’Twas Tara who withdrew first.

“Goodsell!” she yelped.

The battle was over. And bodies littered the ground.

Goodsell lay motionless on the grass. Tara knelt next to him and took his head in her lap. Her shaking hands came up. The early light revealed the blood. “Goodsell!” Tara cried, rocking him as she held his shoulders. “Goodsell!”

Those who had survived stood in grief.

“Goodsell!”

A small gasp escaped him. “My beauty. I had to save you.”

“Do not leave me!” Tara cried. “Not when I need you so!”

Goodsell shuddered and was gone. “Stars, curse you!” Tara screamed. “How could you take him from me?” Her fingers tore at her hair. Her shriek was heinous, and when it died, it left an echo that bit at the air.

Elanna and her sisters wrapped themselves around her. “Tara, Tara, shhh,” Elanna repeated.

They met eyes. Tara’s burned. She had an eternity of words inside her. But naught came out.