(A/n: CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? AND EPILOGUE! It took me long enough…)
Keladry of Mindelan his her emotions behind a stony mask as the last bit of dirt of scooped onto Remia's grave. A large hand clapped her on the shoulder.
"You've done well, Kel," Raoul said softly. "And have you seen this workforce we have now? Mithros!" He whistled in appreciation. It was true; all of King Maggur's former army had been sent to mining in the north of working lumber yards. Tortall was enjoying a long holiday.
"Have the councils come to an agreement yet about Maggur?" She asked him, eyes still locked on Remia's final resting place.
"Life imprisonment," he informed her. She shuddered. "I know," the commander said sympathetically, correctly interpreting her tension. "he deserves worse. But what worse can we give him? Death is too easy an escape."
Finally Kel faced Raoul. "You're right, Sir. Of course you are. But…if you don't mind. I need to be alone.
Raoul nodded and left as Kel trudged slowly back to her rooms. Someone was waiting for her there.
"Dome," she said in surprise, not bothering to hide it. "What are you doing here?"
He wrapped his arms around her, blue eyes glinting with an emotion foreign to Kel. "I need to talk to you, Kel. I've been going about this all wrong." He kissed her softly, quickly.
"What have you been doing wrong, Dom?"
"Courting you. I think we need to talk more, make more public appearances." He winked. "And I'll have you know that I have every intention of marrying you. Just not quite yet." The sergeant kissed her again, this time longer and more passionately. "See you around, Protector of the Small!" Confidently he strode away, whistling softly. Kel touched her lips, her face blank. Then, for the first time in weeks, she smiled.
THE END