Chapter Eight
Epilogue
It had been a tense month, Marguerite fearing every tingle that went down her spine as sign of Klor's presence returning to stake claim on her. Roxton kept a careful eye on her, refusing to go on daylong hunting excursions. He even went, as far in the first few days, to sleeping on the floor of her room, but she quickly grew infuriated with the arrangement and forced him out. He refused to go back to his room, however, and camped out in a chair outside her door.
The others were watchful and uneasy not only about the possibility that the Sorcerer of Malia would return, but with Klor's fear of Veronica. Challenger voiced the opinion that maybe it was Veronica who was the sorceress or powerful witch that allowed Marguerite to remember, but Veronica grew defensive and withdrew in her self. It was never brought up again.
Eventually, high-strung emotions were turned back to normal and Roxton stopped sleeping in the chair beside Marguerite's room. Witty flirtation was once again the center of their conversations and Roxton was able to relax at her smiles. Everything seemed to be going right on track with the exception of Marguerite's laziness. It wasn't present. She was usually the first one up and had coffee crewing by the time Challenger was on his way to the lab.
On such a morning, Roxton entered the small kitchenette as Challenger disappeared down the stairs. He watched the older man go before smiling over at Marguerite who was in the process of pouring him a cup. "Good morning, Miss Sunshine. You're up rather early – again."
She handed him the mug. "It's not as though I have a reason to stay in bed."
"I could give you a reason," he leered, taking the offered cup. Their fingers grazed during the transaction and his grin darkened. "What do you say, Marguerite? I did, after all, save your life. Isn't that worth even one small kiss?"
"You got your kiss, Roxton, on the river bank. I must say it's not very gentlemanly to kiss an unconscious woman."
"That wasn't a kiss! That was…wait a minute." He set his cup down, coming around the table to stand beside her. "If you were unconscious then how do you know I gave mouth-to-mouth?"
She smiled at him innocently then, turned away to work on breakfast.
THE END!!!
I hope you all enjoyed it. If not, that's ok, too. At least you made it through. Since the issue of Klor never actually resolved then, maybe some day I'll get around to making a sequel, but don't hold your breath.
