Well, here's the epilogue. It's the last actual chapter in this story, but in a while I'll put up all the characters I borrowed from Misty, with whatever background I think needs telling about them. There were a LOT of borrowed cherries in this here ficlet. So, I'm proud of myself - the writing word count for this totals 19570 words and I'm very amazed to say that all of it was handwritten before it ever hit the computer screen. Okay, enough bragging - here's the epilogue.

"What do you mean he's gone?" Joselyn demanded. "How could he just disappear?"

Silver rubbed at his temples. Her Majesty, the Queen Sophya was watching him with a sharp gaze, as if she wished to known the answer to that question as much as Joselyn did.

"There was a Gate built," the young Herald-Adept tried to explain. "I can get the signature for you, but without having suspects for me to try that signature against, it won't do a lot of good."

"Do we know where he was whisked off to?" the Queen asked in her quiet, dangerous voice.

Silver shook his head regretfully. "It's impossible to know," he answered, his voice dull. He wondered if this was how Vanyel had felt with all the other Herald-Mages around him being killed off, one by one. As if the world had suddenly disappeared out from under his feet.

"The Gate could have come from anywhere, have been set by anyone – Keighven and Gryphon might not have even been the intended targets." His eyes grew dark and his heart hard as he looked up.

"We haven't heard the Death Bell toll," Joselyn growled at him.

Silver shrugged. "You know as well as I that there are ways to block a Herald's death."

"But not a Companion's!"

"If what my Aren has told me is true, Keighven could have been killed without Gryphon dying. "

"Explain," the Queen ordered sharply.

Silver bowed a little. "Forgive me, your Majesty. Keighven and Gryphon are not bound in the traditional sense of a Choice, according to my Aren. If this is indeed true, then with Keighven's passing, Gryphon's will not be linked. One can die without the other."

Queen Sophya nodded. She knew better than to contradict one of the Companions, though her Beryl often insisted she did that on a regular basis.

"Then, Herald Silver, I charge you with the discovery – to the best of your ability – of what has become of Herald-Intern Keighven and the Companion Gryphon. Joselyn, I also have a special job for you."

Joselyn did not look pleased by this, but she did not contradict Sophya.

"I need you to take the circuit Silver and Keighven would have ridden," the Queen said, watching Joselyn's face crumple. "I'm sorry," she added softly. "I know this isn't what you want to be doing, but we need someone out at Cebu Pass right away, and you are the only one who hasn't either just gotten in or is injured. Please, Joselyn," Sophya added, a touch of urgency in her voice.

Joselyn nodded, a tight mask sweeping onto her face, wiping it clear of all emotions. Rendering her little better than an animated body, in Sophya's opinion, but she knew all Joselyn needed was to get back out on circuit to wake up to what was required of her.

"Silver, can you build a Gate for Herald Joselyn to make it to Cordor? Even if she leaves today, she'll be quite late in getting to her post."

The Herald-Mage inclined his head. "I shall, your Majesty. When do you require one?"

"You planned on leaving tomorrow?"

Silver nodded.

"Then you may keep to the schedule and build one tomorrow for Herald Joselyn." The Queen nodded and stood. All were dismissed.

Silver was the last one to leave. As she watched him go, she mindtouched her Companion.

:Will things ever be the same again?: she asked wistfully. To her surprise, Beryl answered her.

:Were things ever the same to begin with?:

Author's Note: The END! (I've always wanted to say that.)