Karn waved dismissively. "I knew Gerrard. I still know him, and Urza too. Time is not for me what it is for you. I'm talking with them just now. What use is a ceremony to me?"

"Pretty arrogant," said Sisay, smiling. "A typical planeswalker."

Karn looked grieved. "Really? Arrogant? I want to be different, Sisay. I don't want to be a typical planeswalker."

Biting her lip, Sisay said, "Then, next time, attend the ceremony. After all, weren't you designed to be a probe?"

"Humor!" Karn said, pointing. "Yes, I get it. Ha. Ha ha. Humor is one of the many things I am learning."

Sisay nodded grimly, "So, you came to say good-bye."

"Yes, and to take Orim away. Cho-Manno is eager to see her."

When Sisay turned a surprised gaze toward her, Orim could only blush and shrug. "Life is for the living."

"You're telling me," Sisay said as if scandalized. "You have my blessing. Just don't honeymoon in Mercadia."

Orim smiled. She reached out her hand. Tan flesh settled into quicksilver. "I'm ready."

"Good-bye, all of you," Karn said eagerly. He fixed each with his intelligent gaze-no longer eyes like fat washers. "It has been good saving the world with you. I hope to do it again soon."

Sisay wore a look of shock. "With any hope, you won't need to."

"Humor!" Karn said, pointing. "Ha ha! Ha ha!" With that, he and Orim disappeared. Where they had stood, only sunlight and sailing ships remained.

Sisay turned toward her other friends. "Squee, how come you didn't go along? You were a king in Mercadia."

The goblin blinked in thought. "They say, Squee happier to serve in heaven than rule in hell."

"They say the exact opposite," Tahngarth snorted.

"Oh," said Squee.

"And you," asked Sisay of the bull man. "I thought you'd be needed to rebuild Hurloon."

The minotaur shook his head. "Commander Grizzlegom has that well in hand."

Sisay lifted her eyebrows. "So-what are you two hoping to do?"

"Since you asked," Squee replied, "we gots our eyes on show business-'Squee and Tangy's Jugglin' Jackanapes'-"

"We really want a commission on your ship," interrupted Tahngarth. He glanced toward the great galley moored nearby. "If, that is, you need a first mate and a cabin boy."

Sisay smiled. "So, I won't be alone after all." She began to stroll down the wharf toward her new ship, granted to her by the thankful folk of Argivia. A wave of her hand invited the goblin and the minotaur along. "Her name was The Billows, but I think she deserves something better."

"How about De Squee?" piped the goblin.

"How about Sproutin' Horns?" asked Tahngarth facetiously.

Sisay shook her head. "I'm thinking we'll call her just Victory."