Epilogue

My legs swung over the edge of the balcony overlooking Xyr. The main bridge that separated the mist district from the lower city still wasn't complete, and on any other day, I would have seen bodies swarming over the wood scaffolding still surrounding the half-completed structure.

Todayit was empty as every man, woman, and child in Xyr had taken to the streets to celebrate. Every lintel and balcony was decorated with flowers of various colors and types. Music floated up from every direction into some sort of a discordant chorus as it reached me at the castle. Revelers danced hand-in-hand in the great plazas below; giant circles formed as they started a choreographed dance. Others just writhed in masses, letting the joy of the celebration overtake anything else. Wine flowed freely and leaked into the cracks between the cobblestones of the streets, and no one paid any mind.

"I thought I might find you up here." Avlyn's melodious voice sounded from behind me, and I turned to give them a smile.

"I was hoping you would, Commander."

Theirdark cheeks colored a bit at that, but they played it all in stride. "Not interested in joining the festivities?"

"I can't. Tori has me running around for her all day."

Avlynlifted an eyebrow. "You don't seem to be running much right now."

Iraised my finger to my lips and chuckled, "What she doesn't know doesn't hurt her." I patted the stone railing beside me, and they easily leaped over to sit beside me.

Wesat silently as we watched the crowd below for a while, but I noticed that Avlyn's eyes drifted to the sea beyond.

"MayI see it, Avlyn?"

"Are you sure you want to?" they asked. I nodded. Avlyn lifted their right arm towards me. A metal hand had been created for them, and it was cool against my fingers as I gripped it. I pushed back the sleeve of the formal tunic to where it was attached to their arm. I raised my eyes in question, and Avlyn gave me a curt nod. I unbuckled the leather straps that held it to them and placed it on the railing between us.

Myhand lingered on what remained of their arm. "I'm sorry."

"S'not your fault, Pallas."

"If you hadn't been there with me that night…"

"There are many things I regret in this life. But spending that night with you is not one of them."

Iheld their intense stare; they deserved that much. They deserved much more than that.

"Thank you, Avlyn." I gave them a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"For what?"

"For seeing something in me I couldn't see in myself."

"I've always been a commander of vision," they said, giving me a snarky smile.

Ishoved them playfully. "Smartass."

"Learned it from the best." Their eyes dropped to their prosthesis, and they made to grab it before I snatched it away. They gave me a puzzled look.

"MayI try something?" They nodded again.

Ipulled a small brush and ink from the deep pocket of my dress. Avlyn raised an eyebrow. "You just carry that around with you? That's the most…dijurk thing I have ever seen."

"Shut up and let me focus," I said, without an ounce of venom. I flipped the hand over and painted a series of glyphs on the inside, moving the brush slowly to form the curves so that each was a perfect inscription. I set the brush beside me and steadied my breath, pulling a single spark of magic out of my heart and placing it in the enchantment. It glowed a soft blue before the glyphs faded from sight. I helped attach the prosthesis back onto Avlyn's arm.

"So, what did that do—" Their eyes went wide as I slid my hand into their metal one.

"I can feel you."

"It's just a first attempt. I will have to work directly with the smith to make more involved work. It will be hard to design the metalwork around the structural basis of the enchantment, but I think I've found one who has the—what?"

Avlynwrapped their arms around me, their left hand coming to the back of my head as they pulled me into a deep kiss to which I immediately surrendered. It didn't last nearly long enough before they pulled back.

"You are amazing, you know that?" I said nothing, just looked into those beautiful, deep eyes as they held my face in their hands.

"Have you been dreaming about the sea again?" Avlyn finally looked away.

"Every night."

"So, what will you do?"

"I'm not sure. I've never…been away from the army. Never been away from the king. Ha, you would think after five hundred years of living, the thought of something like that wouldn't scare me so much. MaybeI really am more broken than I thought."

"Someone told me that I wasn't broken—only caged. I've finally gotten myself out of captivity, and it's absolutely terrifying. But…maybe it wouldn't be so scary if I wasn't alone."

"Thinking of sailing the high seas, my lady?

"The world's a big place. Who knows where I might fly? Tori said I could charter a ship to anywhere my heart desired."

"No more dragon rides for you, huh?"

Igave them the best smile I could. "But, Avlyn, I—I don't know what this is between us. I would…be honored if you came with me, but I can't promise anything."

Avlyn'ssmile grew to stretch nearly across their entire face.

"Just two adventurers sharing a boat on a perilous journey across the high seas, filled with ancient mysteries and reborn magic? Don't go getting the wrong idea about my intentions, Pallas. That doesn't sound romantic at all."

Ismacked their shoulder again. "Good, glad you don't have the wrong idea."

"Same to you. I know a few idiots who would love to come along and completely ruin any romantic mood."

Igroaned, but my smile grew. That was until a yell sounded from the open balcony doors behind us.

"Our queen calls, but I'll see you this evening for the celebration?"

Avlynswept my hand up and kissed my knuckles gently. "Wouldn't miss it for the breaking of the world, Pallas."