ONE YEAR LATER

Tham kneeled next to what once was his bed, in what once was his home.

It had taken several months for the Libertatum Brotherhood to reach this far in the campaign, and a lot of Spacebending and work for them to unearth the village of Bargolen from the kilometers of rock, dirt, and soil that had crushed it to bits. Even so, Tham’s bed was still recognizable, in a way. His father’s masterful craftsmanship was impossible to miss, even if the only way to enjoy it was through Tham’s damaged fingertips.

He just wished the rest of the Skyguard was here to see it.

A year had passed since the Skylands had fallen. Since Kayden and the Everbender had vanished from the face of the world. Almost a year since Tham had disbanded the Skyguard and they’d all gone their separate ways.

Tham breathed out. “I’m back, Dad,” he whispered.

The success of the mission to find and persuade the Skyland leaders seemed imminent. The Libertatum Brotherhood’s young government needed their support if they wanted to stop the war between their people.

Even so, Tham had needed this detour. He needed peace. He kneeled for a long while beside his damaged bed, face down, bandanna covering eyes that hadn’t seen for a long time.

Tham felt warm today. That meant something good had happened to Hassah; their Echolink still remained, regardless of distance. He wished he could ask her about it. He missed her.

“Lieutenant Harkasonne,” a brotherhood soldier called to him from the wrecked house’s door. “There’s news from the Citadel. From General Varokan, sir.”

“What do they say?” Tham asked without looking up.

“Something was found, deep among the ruins of Empire’s Heart. It seems to have been buried along with the fortress a year ago, the night the Skylands fell.”

“Huh?” Tham said. That day hurt to remember. “What is it?”

“It’s a sword, sir. The report says it calls itself the–”

“Mimicker,” Tham finished, getting to his feet and turning to face the soldier. “The Mimicker. It’s alive.”

Tham hastened out of the house. The massive digging site where they’d recovered his village was to Tham like a thick, deep well. He knew that, if he could look up, he’d just see empty sky. No Skylands anymore.

Mimicker, he thought. You were there all along?

They’d considered it lost in action. Tham had always thought Kayden had taken it with him wherever he’d gone. Somehow, he knew what that meant. The Mimicker was the key to finding Kayden. …Or so he hoped.

“I’m going to the Empire’s Heart site,” Tham told the soldier. “Tell Captain Birgan he’s in charge.”

“Yes, sir,” the soldier nodded, turning to leave.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Tham said. He hesitated before continuing. “I need you to do your best to contact the following people. …Hassah of Madron, Merdilen Arthenmon, and Haroken the Dragon. Give them the message you gave me.”

“...The Skyguard, sir?” the soldier doubted.

“Yes,” Tham said. “I have a hunch… we’ll need them. One last time.”

– – –

Tham approached the central army tent in the temporary camp set up next to the ruins of Empire’s Heart. Even though its workers had already been there for a year, sifting through the debris, it was still called ‘temporary.’ The central tent was so guarded it was hard to believe this was Libertatum Brotherhood territory nowadays.

The soldiers recognized him and let him pass.

“Tham, friend,” he heard Varokan say as he entered. “It sure is a pleasant surprise to see you answer the call. You sure have grown up since we last met.”

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“I have,” Tham agreed. “Nice to hear you too, Varokan. I heard you found an old friend of mine.”

“Indeed,” Varokan said. “Capital Swords sure are sturdy.”

“Tham?” a high voice from inside the tent exclaimed. “Tham?! Is that you?”

“Mimicker!” Tham said, rushing inside and kneeling next to the sword stand in which it lay. “It’s you! Oh, Mimicker. I thought you were dead.”

“So did I,” the Mimicker admitted. “Those were some tough days. How long was it? Two weeks?”

“...A year,” Tham muttered. “It’s been a year.”

The Mimicker kept silent. But for just a moment.

“I must’ve fallen asleep,” it finally said in a low voice. And then, “Kayden! What about Kayden? Did you guys find him already?”

“We haven’t,” Tham said. “We haven’t found a single clue of his whereabouts since that day. You’re the first. There’s so much I want to talk to you about, Mimicker. So much has happened. But, I gotta ask first. What do you know… concerning Kayden?”

“There was a massive power discharge,” the Mimicker told him. “As if a lightning bolt had burst out from between Kayden and the Everbender. It destroyed the falling fortress, burying Kayden and me underneath it. Kayden managed to break through, but I know nothing more.”

“...What?” Tham whispered. “Something happened there, didn’t it? Something happened, right after the battle. …And I need to find out what.”

“We need to get Kayden back,” the Mimicker said.

“Yeah,” Tham said. “Let’s go, Mimicker. I’ll get you up to speed on the way to the Citadel. One last quest.”

– – –

The stacks of books on Tham’s desk were only lightened by the Mimicker’s energetic rambling. Tham had been reading and researching for days, to no avail. Now, Kayden’s personal belongings chest was next to him on his room, waiting.

“I’m not worthy of this,” Tham muttered as he looked at it.

“Why not?” the Mimicker asked.

“Don’t you remember?” Tham said with pain. “I betrayed him. I let my grief and rage blind me, and I left him behind.”

“Maybe,” the Mimicker said. “But you also gave him the key to survive and fight with more power than ever before.”

“Yeah,” Tham admitted. “I got quite the scolding from Varokan for those Unbound air vials.”

“No. Not just that,” the Mimicker continued. “Your friendship. I could see it in his eyes as he fought with me. Kayden didn’t fight for himself. He fought for his friends, and for the world, and for those who weren’t there to try. That includes you. You’re his biggest friend, Tham.”

Tham winced. He remained silent for a long while.

“...Do you think he’ll ever forgive me, Mimicker?” he finally asked.

“I don’t think he ever blamed you, Tham,” the Mimicker genuinely said. “Kayden’s biggest conflict was always with himself. With his guilt. Don’t fall down the same hole.”

Tham breathed in deeply. “Thanks, Mimicker. Let’s check this out.”

And he opened the chest.

There were surprisingly few personal belongings in the chest. Among them was what Kayden had called Bakor’s book. Kayden had summarized it for the Skyguard once, after receiving it in Anthalopus, so long ago.

Tham read it thoroughly, and understood.

Kayden was in the Echo. He had to be. Just like Bakor had been for centuries before coming back to save the Skyguard.

“I’m coming for you, Kayden,” Tham muttered after hours of going back and forth through the book. “We will get you back. You’re my best friend. And I’ll make sure you come back.”

– – –

Kayden stumbled through the wilderness, step by step.

“It’s day 365,” Kayden said, forcing a smile for the 365th day in a row. “Anniversary. Isn’t that right… Lauren?”

Lauren Lerahen’s awareness still didn’t seem to come back. She clung to Kayden’s back with eyes open wide. She wasn’t getting any better.

“Day 365 and we’re still going strong,” Kayden continued, his voice weak. “Now that’s impressive.”

She depended on Kayden.

“I’m not giving up,” he told himself with each step. “I’m not giving up. I’m not giving up until we find the Oath of Megalo and get out of here. I’m not giving up.”

– – –

“I know Kayden’s in the Echo,” Tham declared. “And we’re going to find him.”

Hassah and Merdilen were standing around the war table too, with the Mimicker held in a sword stand and Haroken in a wide platform outside the open window.

Hassah smiled. Gosh, how Tham had missed that smile. He couldn’t see her do it, of course. But he knew.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a year already,” Hassah said. “I’ve missed you guys.”

“I missed you too,” Tham said.

“Let’s do this,” Merdilen agreed with a grin. “What’s the plan?”

“We’ll do anything,” Haroken said.

“I knew I could count on you guys,” Tham said with a smile. “This is it. One last quest. We’re gonna get Kayden back. But we can’t do it alone. For this… we’ll need the whole world.”