Author's Note:

To anyone still with me. Thank you for all your support. It makes me very happy to think that people actually read and maybe even like my writing a wee bit. I'm sorry I've been so terrible about updating, but life keeps moving even when we want to just sit and write. It's almost sad to think that I started this story in a tiny dorm room, and I'm finishing it on a sleepless night between never-ending piles of clients, memorandum, and meetings.

This is, more or less, the conclusion I envisioned when I began the story. There was a lot more that was supposed to happen somewhere between the last few chapters and this one, but I figured that I should write what I could when I had the chance because I might not have the chance to work on this story again. Maybe someday I'll go back and fill-in the inbetweens, when work is slow or if I decide to give up the slog of corporate America and become a starving artist. More likely I won't. I like eating. So, here is what I could do with the time that I had.

Enjoy!! And, as always, thanks for reading!

Epilogue

The flicker of candlelight brought Yfandena back to herself as she focused her blurring vision back onto the rolls of parchment before her. Lately, the days seemed the never end.

.:Tired, love?:. Not nearly enough to stop before finishing her pile, she thought half to herself. Oh, how low she had fallen in the years since she'd first come to Valdemar. To think that she of all people would join those pea-brained white coats in their ceaseless quest to work themselves to an early grave.

The silver-blue of Vanel flitted into her mind, sampling her thoughts with the freedom of someone who knew all her secrets, and for a moment she tasted apples as he laughed at her thoughts. .:Well, finish what you're doing and go to bed. Estein is pacing in his room and liable to give himself another heart attack.:.

Yfandena's own heart stumbled as she remembered that night that they'd all come too close to losing Valdemar's King.

.:Go to bed yourself.:. Replied Yfandena with a light mental hug. .:You can't possibly still be in Counsel.:.

She could feel Vanel sigh through the distance between them, for all he was probably sitting statue-still next to her son in the Privy Chambers. .:Well, Bard Garner had this brilliant idea to start some sort of Bardic School, and Lord Wyvernan is insisting we set it up near his lands...:.

.:Of course he would, the old coot loves music more than food, though not nearly as much as the sound of his old voice. How is Hydan handling the situation?:.

.:Well enough to do you and Estein proud. He'll make as fine a king as he is a Herald.:.

Five years, four grandchildren, two assassination plots, innumerable Karsite spies, and an ever-increasing number of Heralds since Estein's ill health began, and it still hurt to think he would ever leave them.

.:It comes to us all in time:. Said a warm reassuring presence at her side.

Yfandena gazed down at Solara, and laid a gentle hand on the firecat's head. .:Indeed it does, oh wise one. But then it begins again, does it not?:.

Solara chuckled, or at least came as near to chuckling as a cat could, which Yfandena could only describe as a strange mating of hiss and purr. .:Havens willing. You've gained a little of that wisdom yourself over the years. You're hardly the Brat Queen you once were, and the new laws will make sure Valdemar never need fear one again.:.

Looking back down at the parchment in front of her, Yfandena dribbled red wax beneath where the long lines of text ended. Carefully, she pushed her royal seal into the quickly drying blob. She'd once scoffed at the problems of the Valdemar's farmers, but now spent most nights wrestling with them. Petitions for farms near Haven seeking to hunt in the Royal Forests. Petitions to dig ditches for irrigation bording the outer Palace wall.

The Senechal could take care of it, she knew, if she did not. The man was worse than a Herald. But, she'd long sense given herself to seeing to the needs of her people herself.

Her people. Yfandena ran a finger lightly over the still soft wax of the seal. A Firecat and a Companion entwined around a crown. She smiled. It was a beautiful seal and no one would ever use it again. .:It's for the best, isn't it Solara? A Herald ruler and a Herald consort. Rulers for the people, who will always give their all to the people.:.

Solara purred and rubbed head reassuringly against Yfandena's leg. .:As it should be, for all that if makes you sound like one of Them.:.

.:The White Demons? Like I'd be crazy enough to ever join that lot. Self-sacrificing to a fault, foolish is what they are.:. Snorted Yfandena, her lips twisted mischievously in a mock-scowl. She pushed herself out of her chair and gave in to a bone-popping stretch before reaching before blowing out the candle on her desk. She turned to look for the door just as Solara began to glow quite helpfully. .:Have I ever mentioned how much better I love you than any of my torches?:.

This time it was Solara's turn to snort. .:Have I ever told you how fast I'd get demoted from Avatar to Backwater Priest if the other Firecats found I used Vkandis's Light like a common candle?:.

Yfandena looked down, a grin broadening across her face. .:Yes, but it'd be worth it right?:.

Solara looked up and nodded once with all solemnity. .:For you? For this? For Valdemar and Karse? Always and forever.:.

.:Then, here's to the future my friend.:. With that, Yfandena grasped the heavy brass knob of the chamber door, and opened it wide. For her adopted home, she hoped, it would be a bright future indeed.