“He comes in power,

Rejoice, the hour of jubilee is near.

Lift up the cry

Before we die, our Singer will appear.”

Finally, they broke the crushed loaves and ate the Singer’s Meal. While he in reverence held his portion of the bread, Dreamer closed his eyes and felt awareness ebbing. He fought, but Invader swirled in brightness all around him, sweeping through his hesitation. The trumpet sounded and vivid colors blew away the mist. He stepped back in astonishment from the Crystal Chair.

Ansond was in armor! Its gilded surface flashed like fire in the glassy chair. Dreamer beheld the splendor of Earthmaker’s court of love.

Lightning struck an opaque sphere resting in the center of the Crystal Chair. Sound and light shot outward.

“Sorrow comes to Terra!

She wastes in furnaces of holocaust.

Nothing can remain.

The planet has nowhere now to rest but in the ashes of rebellion.”

The Phoenix screamed above the chair:

“Wind shall push the flame of war

and drive the smoke of suffocation through the world

Till peace has bled a deep immortal scar

across the hope of every nation.

Never can there come release

For Terra has despised Earthmaker’s love.

Destruction! Destruction!

The World Hater’s fitful craze beheaded time and slaughtered days

Ignited truth and left the universe ablaze.”

The Phoenix flew upward, shrieking as she fled:

“Let Lifeland know of Terra’s sin,

Let the drama now begin.

Sit, Court of Evermore,

A troupe of players at the door,

Enact the drama of the end.”

A trumpet sounded and act one began.

A small blue ball rolled out in air and a tiny world was born. Mountain chains erupted and continents emerged upon the sphere. Untouched by any hand the globe revolved. It turned slowly and unsteadily at first. Then spun faster, then with fury. And then it issued fire and smoke. Then presently it flashed, exploded into flame and disappeared.

A troupe of actors entered.

One, darkly dressed, strutted onto the starry stage. He snapped his fingers, holding out his hand. The small blue ball appeared again upon his open palm. Applause filled the Court of the Glass Chair but the actor sneered and snapped the fingers of his open hand. A sword appeared whose hilt he grasped. He raised the sword in startling suddenness and plunged it in the sphere. Blood washed down the blade and drenched his hand in red.

Horror filled the court!

“Die, Terra!” he cried out.

The other actors, stunned by this obscenity, seemed paralyzed. The little ball convulsed.

The evil actor gloated on the gore, threw back his giant head and rasped in fiendish laughter.

Ansond sensed the evil of the drama and leapt up on the stage. The other players fell away, and left the swordsmen face to face.

“Give back the wounded world,” the Golden Knight cried out.

“Never!” shrieked the Black Knight.

“It is Lifeland’s greatest love.”

“Love cannot save it now!”

The Black Knight threw the bloody globe into the air and swung his giant sword completely through the wounded mass.