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This novelette originally appeared in the anthology Flights: Extreme Visions of Fantasy (2004), edited by Al Sarrantonio. It can also be found in the anthologies Fantasy: The Best of 2004, edited by Karen Haber and Jonathan Strahan, and The Way of the Wizard (2010), edited by John Joseph Adams. The story is included in the collection Tales of Majipoor (2013).

Treachery and wizardry run rampant under the reign of the mighty Pontifex, as both the rightful and the unworthy heirs to the throne anxiously await his demise. Korsibar, son of the current Coronal, plots with his twin sister and ambitious companions to seize the power of the Coronal when his father ascends to the throne of the Pontifex.

But the burdens of the crown and scepter exact a higher price than Korsibar is prepared to pay. His rival fights to take his appointed place as keeper of his beloved Majipoor... and to restore order to the utter chaos that has befallen their world.

This collection contains ten stories reflecting the endless variety of life on the planet Majipoor. The stories include "Thesme and the Ghayrog", "In the Fifth Year of the Voyage", "The Desert of Stolen Dreams" and "Voriax and Valentine".

Treachery and wizardry run rampant under the reign of the mighty Pontifex, as both the rightful and the unworthy heirs to the throne anxiously await his demise. Korsibar, son of the current Coronal, plots with his twin sister and ambitious companions to seize the power of the Coronal when his father ascends to the throne of the Pontifex.

But the burdens of the crown and scepter exact more of a price than Korsibar is prepared to pay. His rival fights to take his appointed place as keeper of his beloved Majipoor...and to resbackse order to the utter chaos that has befallen their world.

Facing blizzards, ice storms, and strange beasts on a mission to the frozen tundra, Prince Harpirias attempts to rescue a party of scientists who have been kidnapped by an uncivilized race from beyond Majipoor.

From one of the masters of SF comes this new collection of stories, all set on his most famous creation - the world of Majipoor.

A massive world of adventure, romance and danger. A place where dreams can soothe the restless or flay the minds of the guilty. Where humans, aliens and natives live in a shifting, uneasy alliance and where two great men rule over all. No matter who bears the title, there is always a Coronal and a Pontifex, forever miles apart, forever striving to maintain the balance of their far-flung civilisation.

Here, collected for the first time, are the final tales of Majipoor. From the earliest legends of the Shapeshifters to an untold mystery late in the reign of Valentine Pontifex, the seven stories in this collection expand upon and flesh out the remarkable world that Robert Silverberg has created. Spanning a decade of writing from one of the masters of science-fiction, this collection is both a fantastic introduction for those new to Majipoor and a welcome return for those who have visited before.

Table of Contents:

• The End of the Line - (2011) - novelette
• The Book of Changes - (2003) - novella
• The Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn - (2011) - novelette
• The Sorcerer's Apprentice - (2004) - novelette
• Dark Times at the Midnight Market - (2010) - novelette
• The Way They Wove the Spells in Sippulgar - (2009) - novelette
• The Seventh Shrine - (1998) - novella