Author's Note:

This story originally ended with a scene showing Tris' return to Ninver with her husband and mixed family of adopted and biological children. Glaki, of course, is present as a young woman as well as a pair of twins they managed to save from some slavers, their son named Silas (with Briar's abilities) and a newborn that I never could quite decide their gender or background. I scrapped it because I decided that if Briar and Tris had children, it would be entirely through adoption, and it felt too 'neat'. Life isn't that perfect or that easy, especially for these four. So instead I replaced it with this. Again, this is just notes, but I hope you enjoyed it.

-CB

Epilogue.

The ball is for the Winter celebration of the Grand Mage's council, and for the first time that Tris can remember she is genuinely enjoying the entire thing. She dances mostly with Briar, but allows Niko to take her out for a turn, as well as Daja and Pascal (who is back from his travels and taller than ever) and Frostpine. She will never be an excellent dancer, but practice has made her confident which in turn leads to better competence on the floor.

Daja mentioned before the night that she was meeting someone there, a friend she met at another gathering that Tris and Briar missed for other reasons. (Something with Glaki and Evvi, whom they are increasingly spending more and more time with.) Sandry has met this new friend, and likes her a great deal, but said nothing else about it.

Tris and Briar being adorable and quietly flirting while resting between dances and avoiding people who want to talk about boring things. She can't believe its lasted as long as it has, and then he'll catch her eye and she'll feel the love over their bond and she wonders how she could possibly have doubted in the first place.

Love was definitely not logical.

They turn, and see Daja with her friend. Tris examines her and finds things that make her happy. Mostly that they seem happy and comfortable together, arms interlinked, and sharing small smiles of affection. Then she realizes Briar has gone stiff beside her.

He's glaring, and the anger radiating down their bond is enough to almost hurt.

"Briar?" Gentle touch on the shoulder.

His anger is strong enough to catch Sandry's attention as well, and she approaches.

"Briar, what is-"

"She's one of them!"

The big reveal being, the woman Daja is now entangled with was once a mage of Yanjing. Sandry and Daja already know this, but she is in Emelan seeking asylum from the Emperor. She (supposedly) betrayed him to save those who were under attack, and fled in fear of her own life. She is now settled in the capital city, intending to build a new life here. This would not be a named antagonist from the Battle Magic books, but definitely be a mage Briar would have seen at some point in the Emperor's employ.

Briar would leave, Tris going with him, and he promises that he won't let the Emperor do to Daja what he did to Briar. He won't let her get hurt. Tris isn't sure how to feel about it, and only promises to be there for Daja as well.

The End.

-090-

That isn't a happy Epilogue. The reason this wasn't a happy epilogue is because I briefly toyed with the idea of writing this second epic, in which Daja finally finds a love (this unnamed Yanjing mage), Briar has to deal with the biases created by the mental and physical damage he took fighting the Yanjing empire, Tris struggles with the first child she finds that she wants to adopt (but doesn't want to hurt Glaki in the process by doing so) and Sandry struggles with the fact that she has been officially declared the heir to her Uncle's small dukedom. It was very political but also dealt with forgiveness, ptsd, guilt and blame. I was also toying with having one of the four main teachers finally passing away, in a purely natural way. Simply because we all knew it was going to happen eventually, and none of them has lived an easy life. That loss causing the corresponding member of the circle to then be elevated to their place on the Mage Council.

I'm not writing that story. I am, however, open to someone else writing it as well as someone else finishing out these last few chapters on their own. PM me, and we'll chat if this sounds like something you would be interested in.

I know this isn't what most of you probably wanted when you saw the notice that I finally updated the story. I'm sorry. I wanted to at least give you what I could, though. I hope its enough.

A huge thanks for everyone who has (or will) review. You are the reason people write! To keep on doing what you're doing, to help create more stories for all of us to enjoy :)

~CB