Parting
"Where are you going?"
"I can't stay here," said Kegan. "You know I can't." With a heavy heart, he turned away from his friend and continued on his way.
"Why not?"
"You know perfectly well why not, Rourk," Kegan snapped. "I don't belong here."
"What about the brotherhood?" Rourk pressed. "You're just going to turn your back on all of that? On all of them?"
"Those men are better off without me," Kegan sighed. "You know it just as well as I do. I am a stain on the brotherhood. Lavyn, and Coran…and who knows how many others…I've caused so much pain."
"Áriel and Elana used you, I don't blame you for that, nor does anyone else that understands what happened."
"It matters not," Kegan said, his voice raised. "What I did is unforgivable, and I will have to live with that for the rest of my life." Again Kegan began to walk away from Rourk. He stopped at the top of the hill overlooking the village. It looked peaceful from here.
"What about Alalandra?" Rourk asked as he finally caught up with Kegan. "You love her. You're going to leave her behind as well?"
"Just as the brotherhood, she will do better without me in her life," said Kegan sadly. For a moment the two stood there, the only sound coming from the wind against their traveling cloaks. Finally Kegan spoke.
"Is it better to be a big part of someone's life for a short time, or a shadow in someone's life for a long time?" Rourk gazed expectantly at his friend, but Kegan did not look at him. "I'm not sure I know the answer myself." Then he turned to look at Rourk. "Make sure no harm comes to her, and do what you can to reshape the brotherhood into what it once was."
"Of course, Kegan, but you aren't leaving. I won't let you."
With a sad smile, and the ghost of a laugh, Kegan turned away once more from his friend. Then, with the sound of rushing air lasting only an instant, he was gone.