"In conclusion," Senator Karner Enfijo declared two days later in the Camborne city hall, "we gather here this evening to celebrate a glorious victory, unprecedented by any before it. For in what other battle have enemy masses so large fled the battlefield merely at the death and capture of their top officers, rather than fight to the last man? Indeed we cannot but attribute this victory to the strength and vigor of warriors of the likes of Qwarten Rakon, Kahiri Oriann, and Chris Corvin. To them, we offer our untainted gratitude." 

A round of thunderous applause erupted from the midst of the audience immediately at the conclusion of Karner's statement, causing him to grin from ear to ear. 

Kahiri patiently waited for the noise to die down before she turned to face Karner. "Senator, can I come up and speak a few words?" 

Karner tilted his head in confusion. "Why, I suppose so." 

With a nod, Kahiri stepped up onto the speaking platform with her aching body covered in a dazzling violet dress not unlike the expensive pieces worn by the rich women below. She stole one last glance at Qwarten in his new lieutenant colonel uniform before she stepped to the edge of the platform. 

Kahiri closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she finally spoke. "Well, hello," she stuttered, "I lack both eloquence and social graces, as you all can see. But there is one thing I'm obligated to say, which our good Senator totally missed." 

An indignant gentleman glared up at Kahiri, his rage causing his entire body to tremble. "You have some nerve, calling Senator Enfijo wrong!" 

"I'm not saying he's wrong. I'm saying he's incomplete. You see, Qwarten, Chris, and myself, all of us, really, we gladly accept your thanks. As the late Erok Fyervor once told me, 'a warrior without happy faces to come home to, is a sad warrior indeed.' However, none of us would have breath in our nostrils or strength in our bodies if it weren't for God's grace. So again, we accept your thanks. But please, don't forget to give far more praise to God Almighty!" 

Though the next round of applause proved less hearty than the last, it still drew a satisfied grin to Kahiri's face as she descended the stairs. Drinks began to flow as she rejoined the crowd, and simultaneously, several couples stepped onto the dance floor. The musicians glanced up from their meals regretfully before they dashed to snatch up their instruments and accompany the prancing steps. 

Meanwhile, Kahiri pleasantly approached Qwarten and gratefully took a glass of orange juice from his hand before she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. 

Qwarten locked eyes with Kahiri with a sideways grin planted on his face. "You did good up there, Kahiri. I'm impressed." 

Kahiri smiled demurely up at Qwarten. "Really? I was stumbling over my words the whole time." 

"I don't think anybody noticed. And besides, you got your point across, and that's the important thing." 

"I guess that's true." 

Qwarten exhaled, laid a hand on Kahiri's back, and gently led her through the crowd. "Let's go sit down." 

The pair pushed their way through the multitude to a table over in the corner where Meg sat with her feet up on the table and a bottle of whiskey in her hand. Jeng sat beside her with a chicken drumstick in his fingers and grease all over his lips. Dr. Swedo also accompanied the pair, his eyes shifting judgmentally between the hard drinker and the heavy eater. 

Qwarten pulled a chair out for Kahiri while his amused gaze rested on Swedo. "You mind if we sit here too, Doctor?" 

"Absolutely not! I would be glad to be blessed with your company! And that was a spectacular speech, Kahiri." 

Kahiri giggled at the doctor's enthusiasm. "Thanks." Then she turned to Meg. "So, Meg, did they end up paying you?" 

Meg smiled dreamily and nodded. "Oh, yeah, they did. And with our good doctor's persuasion, they paid me double for the delay." 

Kahiri raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? I never took you to be all that persuasive a man, Swedo." 

Swedo crossed his arms proudly. "I can be whatever I want to be, whenever I want to be." 

"Really?" Qwarten challenged as he plopped down into his own seat, "Can you become a lieutenant colonel right now, then?" 

Swedo stuttered. "Well, no, I suppose not. Congratulations for your promotion, by the way." 

Qwarten merely nodded in response before he noticed a figure cast its shadow over the table. He glanced back and greeted Chris with a welcoming grin. 

"Hey, guys." Chris said as he seated himself, "This table's filling fast, isn't it?" 

Kahiri nodded. "It is. I just heard that you got officially knighted yesterday. Congrats." 

Chris grinned at Kahiri before he shifted his gaze to the redheaded bounty hunter across the table. "Oh, Meg, I found this out on the field. I figured you'd want it back." 

Meg sat up and squinted at the gleaming item in Chris' hand. With a sigh, she grabbed it and placed it on her napkin. "That switchblade..." she muttered, "Thanks." 

Chris locked eyes with Meg for a long moment with a small smile planted on his lips. Then he turned as he heard the chair beside him slide backwards. A moment later, Govlo seated himself beside the young man. 

"I've never been to a Kaborian party before." Govlo declared as he scooted his seat forward. "It all feels so civil and polite." 

Kahiri smirked. "What are Logolian parties like?" 

"Much wilder, for one thing. Blood, wine, and praises to Anjaflic are all served up in equal measure." 

Qwarten wrinkled his lip. "Gross." 

"I heartily agree. Although I still do wish they served this wine in larger portions." 

"Right?!?" Meg exclaimed. "I get a workout from walking back and forth between my table and the bar so often." 

Now Kahiri rolled her eyes along with Qwarten. "Anyhow, this has been a long journey, and it seems it's now at an end. Is this where we all part ways?" 

Chris' countenance sombered as he slowly nodded his head. "I guess so. It's a bittersweet thought. I wonder where our separate paths will lead us." 

Qwarten smiled and laid a hand on Kahiri's shoulder. "Well, I know that on my part, I have a conversation or two to have with this lady's father. If that goes well, then our paths will be not two, but one." 

Kahiri grinned at Qwarten. "I think he'll like you." Then she turned to Swedo. "What're you gonna do with yourself without us around, Doctor?" 

"Why, I'll do what I've always done. I'll continue to preserve and improve my patients' lives daily, although I do admit I'll miss you all. Even Qwarten." 

Qwarten chuckled. "Oddly enough, I have to admit to the same, Swedo. You're an odd one, but a loyal one." 

Swedo laid a hand on his heart. "I'm quite honored to hear it, Major, er, Lieutenant Colonel." 

Chris closed his eyes and sighed. "I think I know where I'm headed." 

"Where's that?" Kahiri asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"It occurs to me that most of the Yugdabs fled the battle, meaning they're still out there somewhere. Now that I'm a knight officially, perhaps I'll hunt them down and eliminate them. Maybe I can even enlist the services of Queen Dara of Defloria." 

"From the way she looked at you," Swedo commented, "I feel confident she'd be glad to help you." 

Chris shifted awkwardly in his seat for a second before he straightened both his collar and posture. "Maybe so." 

"As for me," Govlo began, "I feel that my new purpose is to bring spiritual peace and healing to my people. It's not enough for their violence to be stopped, if their souls aren't saved." 

"Very true." Chris took a breath and turned to Meg. "What do you think lies in your future?" 

Meg shrugged. "Probably something horrible, but as long as drinks and money come my way along with the hardship, I'll be fine. I'll miss you all, though." 

Kahiri reached over and placed her hand on top of Meg's. "You've been through a lot and lost a lot, Meg. If you ever need someone to talk to, my door will always be open, literally and figuratively." 

Meg's eyes drifted up and met Kahiri's before a grin crossed her face. "Thank you, Kahiri. You're a good friend." 

Jeng coughed and leaned forward. "Might set up a restaurant myself, maybe. Depends on if there'll be customers, though." 

"Seeing how well you cook on the run," Meg replied with a smirk, "I know you'd do a spectacular job with a dedicated kitchen. I'd eat at your establishment regularly, even if nobody else does." 

"Good to hear." 

Each set of eyes at the table glanced up as another figure approached. A gorgeous blonde young lady in an equally pretty scarlet dress stood before them and smiled graciously before focusing her gaze on Swedo. 

"Um, Dr. Ulrigo, do you happen to remember me? Susan?" 

Swedo nodded vigorously. "Of course I do! You were sent to me last summer with a rusty nail stuck all the way through your left foot, and you left me with only a little red dot to show for it. How did your physical therapy go?" 

"It went well, and actually, that's why I'm here. I was hoping to show you my gratitude with a little dance, that is, if you're okay with that." 

Swedo's eyes widened and an ear-to-ear grin appeared on his face. "Why, certainly! I would love that!" 

Susan smiled and hooked her arm in the doctor's. "Thank you, Doctor. No other man would bother himself to even look at me." 

"Please, just call me Swedo. And I pity those men, because certainly, they're the ones missing out." 

With that, the pair strolled off in cheerful conversation and headed for the dance floor. After the circle of warriors remaining at the table exchanged amused glances and shared a round of laughter, they continued their conversation. They remained like that for hours, only departing late that night.

THE END.

******************** 

A/N: As Chris said, this is indeed a bittersweet moment. I'll admit, I got really emotional writing this chapter, because I realized that this whole process of creating these characters, writing their stories, and all that began just over a year ago, and now it's all over. 

So now that we've reached the end, I'd like to thank you for reading, and for sticking around till the end. And if you have any final thoughts for me, please do share. :D 

I hope you've enjoyed reading this, my first novel, as much as I have writing it. I hope it entertained you, made you laugh in parts, made you think in others, and above all, proved to be worth your time. God bless, and again, thank you so much for reading! :D