Epilogue

Tasa had never seen anything like her coronation gown before. Made of light blue silk, it shimmered and shone in the light. All Larinu princesses had worn it. It was pristine and fit perfectly, as if it had been made for her specifically. She'd been told that it was part of the magic; that it responded to each princess it touched in different ways. As she kept looking at it, little threads of gold appeared throughout, matching the golden glow on her fingertips and in her eyes. It was beautiful and a bit eerie at the same time.

"Are you ready for the ceremony?" Falda asked. She'd been appointed Tasa's senior lady-in-waiting. Since they were such close friends, they didn't want to be separated, and Falda loved fashion and gossip, so the job suited her perfectly.

"Yes. No. Mostly. I'm not sure. I don't know how to rule a planet. I never learned."

"He'll teach you," Falda said soothingly, putting a stray tendril of Tasa's hair behind one ear. She'd styled her hair in an intricate braid, which was apparently the fashion now. And it looked pretty, she had to admit.

"It's just so much at once," she said, fussing with her dress, the shimmers catching her attention again. They were so pretty.

"Right. And stealing and piloting a ship wasn't? Please. This will be nothing. Come on. Your prince and people await, Crown Princess Tasa."

But there were too many people, she realized as Falda guided her into the large throne room. They were packed shoulder to shoulder and lined up in the doorway just to get a glimpse of the ceremony. The balconies, too many to count, were standing room only. Luckily, she and Falda had come through a hidden doorway, so they weren't mobbed by anyone.

Because, as Orin explained a few days ago, they were now celebrities. People would do anything just to touch them. Say a few words. Ask for a blessing.

Whatever that was. She was hoping she'd learn that, too.

Tasa tried to stop trembling as they made their way to the front of the room. It was a simple room with large windows on each side, blue silk curtains tied to let the light in, and a dark blue runner that ran all the way up to an ornamental dais. Two heavy wooden thrones sat on top. She couldn't bring herself to look at anyone, not even Falda.

She tried to smile as she passed Johnal, Vola and Ty. Vola mouthed, knock ‘em dead, Commander!

"Ladies and gentlemen, High Queen Tasa," one of the officials, who was dressed in blue, said. Everyone stood and went to one knee. Some gasped.

High Queen Tasa?

Tasa looked at Orin, who was seated on one of the thrones, wearing an ornamental blue suit and a white sash. He was so incredibly handsome, and he was grinning.

He stood and approached her.

And knelt.

"What is this?" she asked.

Orin looked up at her, his eyes shining in the light. "My queen. You carry the magic of Sohva despite not being Larinu. That is rare. So rare that we don't even have records of the last time it happened. It means you are meant for great things. Sohva has blessed you. Marked you as Hers."

Tasa took a breath, let it out. What a strange turn of events. Now she was…super special and rare…after being a slave? Was she dreaming?

The same official that had announced Tasa as high queen stepped forward. "It is time for your coronation, Crown Prince Orin and High Queen Tasa. Are you ready?"

"Now wait just a minute," someone said. A thin man with brown hair and crooked teeth approached the dais. He did not look pleased. "How do we even know this is true? I am not fond of Aridians. Having one as high queen is frankly abhorrent."

Tasa's eyes widened. She could feel his repulsion in her mind like a distant throbbing. "I'm sorry you feel that way, sir. But it's true. I carry Larinu magic after binding with Orin aboard the ship." She held up her hands, which glowed and pulsed with golden light. "And I am able to perform Larinu magic, just like Orin."

"Not only that, but she also commanded and piloted our ship while I was incapacitated," Orin pointed out. "She'd never done that before. If it weren't for her, we wouldn't have made it back here alive."

"Or the binding that saved you from Gael's torture. She offered to do it, even though you said it could have killed her," Johnal pointed out, pitching her voice loudly so she could be heard by all.

"She's a total badass, and she should be your queen," Ty added.

"If you have the magic, prove it," the man said, looking from Tasa, to Orin, and back to Tasa again. "Anyone can fake golden light. Let's see the real thing. If it exists."

Tasa's mouth went dry, and her heart thudded. She had to…prove herself to this guy? In front of…at least five thousand people, maybe more? No, she'd choke?—

She was so focused on her own racing thoughts and fear that the hand on her shoulder startled her. It was Orin, looking into her eyes with absolute faith and adoration. "You can do this, Tasa. Just as I taught you. Just pretend we are practicing on the ship. Forget about everyone else."

All right, maybe she could do that. She drew in a breath, then let it out slowly. Orin took her hand and squeezed it. Then stepped away.

She looked at the man. "What is your name, sir?"

"Avern," he said tonelessly. She noticed he didn't use her title. Not that she cared that much—apparently, she had to earn it—but that told her just how serious he was about not caring for Aridians and not supporting her claim as high queen. She could hardly believe it herself.

Curiously, she now felt nothing of his emotions. Was she really that inconsequential to him?

But…when she thought of everything that had happened in the past month…it was miraculous. Some would say magical. Aridians didn't believe in things like that. But Orin had taught her otherwise. He had taught her to believe in it, because it was not only real, but it wasn't going to harm her. She was sure of that now.

She nodded, summoning a smile. "All right, Avern. I will prove it to you." She closed her eyes and thought about all the times she and Falda tried to explain the rips and holes in the garments they mended for the ship. How they'd make up the most ridiculous stories. How they wanted to laugh, to have fun, to make the drudgery and horrific abuse go away for just a little while.

Ah, she thought. I know just the one. It was about the commander. How his uniform once had a long tear in the left leg. They'd woven a story about him not just tripping and tearing the fabric on a sharp edge of metal somewhere. No. They decided that he'd been fooling around with several of the lower-ranking female officers, and they found out about each other. So they all had a meeting. And came at him with knives. He'd barely escaped with his life. The tear was the least of his problems…

Just remembering it gave her a chuckle. She took all that fun, giggly energy and tossed it at Avern. For good measure, she made herself even more giggly with another fun story she and Falda had cooked up, about how a crew member had almost fallen out of the airlock—if her uniform hadn't gotten caught when the door closed—and she'd almost ended up naked in space…

And Avern stood there, his eyes straight forward, his back straight as an arrow.

Did it work? Or did she…fail?

Seconds ticked by.

Oh, no. She'd failed. She was just about to figure out a different tack, a different emotion and story, when she heard something come from Avern.

The quietest little chuckle.

And then?—

He threw his head back, laughing so hard, tears began to fall down his cheeks. And then…then…

Orin broke his silence with a chuckle, too.

And she had another idea.

She extended the feeling beyond Avern, touching every person in the room.

Soon, laughter filled the space.

It was a long time before everyone settled.

Avern wiped his face, still chuckling. He tried to speak, sputtered, and tried again. "You…did you…cause that?"

She nodded, feeling more confident. "Now," she said, meeting his gaze, "do you feel I've proved that I can perform Larinu magic?"

Avern's eyes narrowed. "You made me laugh somehow. But then…everyone else did, too. How…was that…?"

Tasa grinned, glancing at Orin, who grinned back at her. "Yes, sir. I caused you to laugh using my psi abilities. The magic was in spreading the laughter around." She made a gesture to encompass the entire throne room, where people were watching with wide eyes and whispering to one another, looking amazed.

"Y-You did that?"

"Yes, sir. I did. Would you like another demonstration?"

He shook his head. "That's…enough. Th-thank you, Your Highness."

She smiled. "Thank you, sir."

"Excellent," Orin said. "Anyone else have any…objections?"

"Where is Gael?" a woman in the second row asked, nearly shouting to be heard. "He should be the one to be coronated."

"He's indisposed at the moment," Orin replied without a hint of emotion. "He tried to kill me and kidnap Tasa. I sent him…let's just say…on an extended leave of absence. He's still alive. But he won't be back for a long time."

Murmurs flew through the room.

"I assure you, he was treated fairly," Orin assured everyone. "The punishment fit the crime. As they say." He turned to the official. "I think we're ready."

Tasa nodded, feeling much more confident now. "Yes, we are ready."

Several officials came forward. They introduced themselves as the High Council, and they were responsible for guiding the royalty with matters of ruling, as well as ceremonial things like coronations.

The lead councilor held Orin's crown. It was gold and sparkled with blue jewels around the edges.

"Blue is the color of Sohva's eyes, and it is through Her eyes that She sees all. And it is through Her sight, we are guided," the lead councilor said, bowing his head.

Tasa realized that his words were being translated so she could understand him.

Orin and Tasa bowed to him. That explained all the blue—in the throne room, Orin's and her coronation clothing, and the jewels in his crown.

"Do you swear to uphold the laws and rules of our beloved planet Larin?" the lead councilor asked.

Orin said, "I so swear."

"Do you swear to follow Sohva and be guided by Her tenets in all you do?"

"I so swear," Orin said.

"Then I now formally coronate you as Crown Prince of Larin." The lead councilor stepped forward and placed the crown on Orin's head. Now that she saw it up close, it looked heavy, too, but Orin did not give any indication of that. He just smiled and waved to the people.

The lead councilor gave Tasa a reassuring smile. The councilor beside him handed him another crown, presumably Tasa's, which was far more ornate and taller than Orin's, with jagged, jeweled edges and a tall point in the center. The jewels were blue and white, just like Orin's sash.

"Do you swear to uphold the laws and rules of our beloved planet Larin, even though you are not Larinu?" the lead councilor asked.

"I so swear," Tasa said, trying to radiate confidence. Of course she would. This was her home now.

"Do you swear to follow Sohva and be guided by Her tenets in all you do?" he asked, watching her closely.

"I so swear."

"Then I formally coronate you, Tasa, formally Princess of Aridia, Crown Princess of Larin and High Queen," the lead councilor said, placing the crown on her head.

It was heavy.

And she felt her responsibility acutely.

But it was fine because Orin would be by her side every step of the way.

Applause rang out through the room, the people bowed, and then they sang the traditional Larinu coronation song to bless their new royalty. As their voices mixed and blended in harmony and in love, Orin raised his hands and made intricate movements, creating glowing strings and making them dance. She watched in awe and wonder as they spun and flipped, rotated, and wove in and out and twisted together in intricate patterns.

And then he glanced over at her, silently asking her to join him. To use her magic. To make them dance, too.

So she did. Without worry that she'd taint her soul. She knew it would be all right.

She made them fly along the edges of the room, swooping down and almost touching a few of the people sitting there. She brought them up to the ceiling where they dove down and raced back up. Orin then separated a few and brought them to one little girl in the third row, who squealed with joy.

"Oh…the dancing strings!"

"Just for you, Palla," he said with a wink.

Tasa wasn't sure what that was about, but it was really sweet. Something he'd do for a little girl, for sure.

He made the strings dance for Palla for a few more minutes, then brought them back as the song reached its conclusion.

Tears filled Tasa's eyes.

Never had she felt more at home, more loved, more blessed, than now.

"You forgot something, Orin," a voice said.

Orin and Tasa both spun to where the voice came from. An older man wearing coveralls stood in one corner holding a mop.

"Jacob, you're here!" Orin said.

"You have to make them move like my Fillini worms do," he said.

Orin laughed. "Challenge accepted."

"Oh. I…don't like those," Tasa whispered.

Orin just smiled and made the strings move again. Soon, he had them wiggling in the characteristic way of Fillini worms.

"Well, I'll be damned. That's perfect. You really are magical," Jacob said. "Your Highness."

"Just Orin to you, my friend," Orin said. "I hope you'll stay here awhile."

Jacob smiled. "If you need help keeping this place clean?"

"You have a deal," Orin said.

"Well, then, I better hop to. Enjoy the rest of your day," Jacob said. And then he was gone.

"He always tries to get me to eat those worms," Orin said, shaking his head. "And I never do. I just can't handle my food moving."

"The taste is unpleasant too," Tasa said. "So you're not missing anything."

"Well, if you're done here, Your Highnesses?" the lead councilor said. "We have food—that isn't moving—waiting in the dining hall for you and your guests."

Orin laughed. "Let's go, my queen. I can't wait to introduce you to more wonderful Larinu treats."

"Beautiful ceremony," Johnal said, coming up to them. Ty and Vola were with her. "So this is where you'll be living now? What about the ship?"

Tasa felt her apprehension. And she found she didn't want to give up the ship…or her crew. She glanced at Orin. "I think we may be able to work something out so we can fly again. And maybe…have you all as our crew…"

Orin chuckled. "Imagine that. The Crown Prince of Larin and his high queen doing good deeds in space." Then he sobered. "I like that. A lot. We'll definitely have to do that. The ship is technically ours now, so we can fly it whenever we want."

"Let's do this thing," Ty said, a twinkle in his eye. "I bet Jacob would love to come, too. If we provide him with Fillini worms."

"Of course," Tasa said. "We can't deprive him of those."

"Then it's settled. We're flying again? Doing good deeds in space?" Vola put her hand out.

They all joined hands with her and gave their agreement. It was clear that everyone was excited and ready to do this. Tasa wasn't sure about ruling a planet. But she proved she could command and pilot a ship…

Once Tasa's crew wandered off, Tasa and Orin began making plans.

As they linked arms and made their way to the dining hall, Tasa finally felt at peace. She was home.

And together, they were all pure magic.