Thank you to Miss Mary Lou and Mystik Genie

Epilogue

Astin held Chiara in his arms tenderly and stroked her hair. He'd made sure he was by her side the whole time she was out, and derived satisfaction that she'd called for him the moment she'd opened her eyes. She remembered killing Kaelen but that was the only thing she could remember since she'd last seen him. The fight was completely blocked out of her memory. Somehow something, probably the blow to the head, had triggered her to fight off the Influence briefly, long enough for her to kill Kaelen.

Nadin was in the kitchen, eating, none the worse for his experience. The other apprentice too seemed fairly unharmed. It was Ronan who was left emotionally shattered. The knowledge that he'd killed his uncle and master weighed heavily on his heart and mind. It would be a long time before he'd be able to get over it.

Finally there was Atana. She hadn't spoken a word about what had happened between her and Kaelen and he didn't think that she ever would. Despite all her protests Astin believed she'd loved Kaelen and wouldn't be able to get over his death anytime soon.

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Atana sat in her bedroom gazing at her duvet and plucking away at it with her fingers. He was gone. The book hadn't specified what happened if your soulmate got killed. With a sigh she pulled out her light sabre and started to practise with it in the room, going through each movement slowly like Yoga.

She'd cried. Cried in the middle of the night when no one could hear her or chastise her for her feelings. Maybe it was better this way. Now she didn't have to keep looking over her shoulder in case he was following her and at least she'd been spared having to do it herself.

The tears were all gone now.

Putting away the sabre she walked out into the corridor and found herself walking into the main room. Astin was there with Chiara in his arms. Could she forgive her young colleague for killing her soulmate? The question was pointless. She already had.

"You going to be all right?" Astin asked her gently.

Chiara looked up into his face, unsure what he was talking about.

Atana smiled at him. Of course she couldn't hide it from Astin.

"I'll be fine," she replied slowly.

What would she do now he was gone?

She'd do what she'd done before. Carry on. Live and fight.


There is a sequel and prequel to this coming when I get the time