When I finished "Spiral Horn, Spiral Tusk," Admiral Shayell's story broke free of the historical incident that had inspired it and took on a life of its own. The king who had sent him to obtain the unicorn's horn proved to be a wizard, and a vengeful one.
Admiral Shayell's adventures were not over when his fleet foundered on the rocks, although his career as a senior navy officer was. As punishment for having lost the ships, King Andrew exiled him to the ancient tower that stood not far from the site of the shipwreck. The work of the Old Ixilons, the semi-legendary dinosaurian first inhabitants of Ixilon, it had long stood empty as mute testimony to the lost greatness of its creators.
Now that slender shaft of irridescent stone would once again serve the needs of mariners, albeit this time human ones. To replace the long-lost magical lantern that had once topped it, Shayell built a large platform upon which he placed an iron grate. Upon that would burn the fire of this restored lighthouse, which many called the Pharos in memory of the lighthouse of human antiquity.
In this picture, Admiral Shayell poses before the Pharos-light, the sea visible over his shoulder beyond the railing of the lantern platform. Upon his hand is the bespelled emerald ring for which Rissa was tempted to kill him. Now it holds a far harsher curse than simply the one binding Rissa's gift so she cannot run away.
All pictures on this page copyright 2000 by Leigh Kimmel, all rights reserved.
If you are interested in using these images on your webpage or in a publication, or would like to obtain the originals, please contact me.
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This page last updated March 20, 2000
