Fanfic

Four months later - Midsummer
The woods of Sachantsia were tranquil as Evin Larse and Laila, the Duke and Duchess, made their way home through the spring afternoon.
Miri now commanded the Riders, and it was a common joke that she had better not go and get �loved up� or there would be no one left to lead them. Buri had also resigned after marrying. Not to be tamed in any way, but she said she had been wandering long enough.
Laila was on a rare vacation from her duties. She and another now presided over the Mages School, and Laila in particular the Healer�s School, whereas her partner in magic handled the larger things. She had given up her post as a lady in waiting, but remained the Chief Healer of the realm.
Evin had resigned from the riders and accepted the post of General from Maggur. Scanra had calmed down to a great extent. Pockets of rebellion remained, but they were few and far between. The young King and his equally young advisors had found the faith and loyalty of the people, the trust of their neighbours and their priests.
The country still had problems, but everyone was looking to the Scanran future with hope now, not despair.
Laila felt a small tug in her stomach and smiled serenely. She looked up to see a bird chirping happily to her chicks and knew exactly how she felt.
As they approached the road to their home, Laila turned to her husband. �Evin?�
�Yes?� He stopped, suddenly concerned.
�I have something to tell you,� Laila replied with a smile.

Turning to put a hand on his wife�s, Neal asked for the waiter to send more juice to the table. Yuki, Shinko and Roald were sitting around the table with various legends at the Jugged Hare.
It was a party to commemorate the retirement of Duke Baird, Chief Healer of the Realm and Neal�s father.
After the usual toast - made by Alanna, who refused to let Neal do it, saying �We want home before dawn, you know� - King Jonathon stood up.
�Everyone thanks Duke Baird for his long, loyal and admirable service to the realm, and wishes him all happiness as he returns to be with his family. One member of his family will not be going home, however.�
Grinning wickedly, the King looked at Neal. �As to his successor, I am sure his son Nealan will serve with the same calm and dedication.�
As everyone clamoured to congratulate him, he found himself afflicted by the rarest of ailments for Neal - he was utterly speechless.

The nursery in the palace at Hamrkeng was dark, moonlight flooding through the open window to illuminate the small baby in the cot. Not that they needed it. White globes of lukewarm magic danced above the gurgling baby.
With blonde hair that could have come from any of her parents and eyes that only her mother could have given her, a shade of blue all her own.
Said mother gently batted a ball of flame to her daughter, who giggled and pushed it back at her in a now common game in the small family.
A light baritone voice laughed as he wrapped his arms around her, resting on her slightly rounded stomach.
�We had such a trouble finding the right name for Nirah, what will we do about this little one?� He murmured into her ear, allowing his chin to rest on her shoulder.
�Well, Nirah means �first light,� how about� I don�t know,� Jodai said, looking impishly at her husband. �Why don�t you choose?�
�Oh no, not that agai-� Maggur replied with a grin, only to be cut off by a kiss from Jodai.
The kiss grew until a globe of light gently tapped them on the cheek, reminding them who they were present to play with. With a soft sigh of contentment, the parents complied and took their turn at the game.

�No matter what the road you take, the destination is always equal.�
The two riders stopped, looking at the splash of the sunset on the horizon. Sharing a glance, he shrugged to her, a lazy �whatever makes you happy.�
She stuck her tongue out at him and they both laughed.
Leaning on her mount, the Shang Phoenix smiled and dismounted, leading her horse to the base of a tree next to a stream. They sat for a rest before moving on to their home.
The Own too had lost it�s leadership, now led by Quasim and Flyndan, after Raoul and Dom resigned to be with the women they loved. Buri, Raoul, Kel and Dom now all taught the northern refugees at a town called Haven, at the King�s request, which was rapidly turning into a renowned school for those willing to learn combat.
Even the southern Bazhir were travelling and sending their youth to learn in the north. In addition to the students and the refugees, it was fast becoming an orphanage for children. Now a proper fortified town instead of a war time refugee shelter, it was also home for Kel and Dom.
They had married a month before in Corus. It had been in Corus to stop the moaning of deities, immortals and the involved families who had all wanted to be present. Since saving humanity, Kel and Dom had been popular in all sorts of circles. The presence of the black God at a wedding must have been unprecedented, usually funerals were more to his taste.
Dom spoke, breaking into Kel�s thoughts. �Do you want to put Siren on a lead? We�re almost there anyway, so there�s no rush.�
Kel grinned. �And if we arrive late, we get to stave off the enthusiastic welcome and workload until tomorrow morning,� she added.
Now Dom grinned as well, twirling a stray strand of her hair around his finger and tucking it behind her ears. �Exactly.�
Kel laughed and mounted up, Dom getting into the saddle behind her. She sighed and leaned back against him, thankful that her �turn at heroics� was over, with a very large apology from the God at fault and assurances for a long and happy life for her, her family and friends as a reward.
She thought about her future. There was always children, of course. The orphans at Haven had immediately latched on to her and Dom as foster parents, not that they minded at all. She knew from her work at Haven and at Shang that she enjoyed teaching children, and would love to have her own with Dom someday.
Right now she was content. Remembering her �children� at Haven, she urged Dancer into a trot.
The end.