Disclaimers: Same thing that everyone else says applies here. Language, Violence, Naughty Bits, blah blah blah.

Epilogue

Sand was restless again. Ever since Kathrynn had destroyed the King of Shadows, his nights were never easily surrendered to his reverie. He had taken to walking along the keep walls, looking out over the surrounding land while he tried to think of where he was to go next. The fight had been so long and so consuming he was frankly at a loss of what to do with himself.

He knew Kathrynn would always allow him a home at the keep, but the idea of staying around humans for years, watching them grow old and die was unappetizing to say the least. Perhaps it was time for a change. Waterdeep was lovely this time of year, and as a bonus he would be out of Nasher's reach for the first time in many years.

Yes, a change is most definitely in order. No more annoying tieflings, loud dwarfs, or angsty paladins who were severely lacking a sense of humor. And most importantly, no more hot headed sorceresses that made his fingers itch with the desire to disintegrate her.

He would miss the thief through. The dear girl was the only one at times who seemed capable of providing him intelligent conversation. Although, every time he went somewhere with her, he ended up having to check to see if he soiled his robes. He mimicked her voice in his head. 'Sand, lets go play with a dragon! Sand, lets poke this huge adamantine golem and see what it does! Sand, wouldn't it be fun to stroll into the middle of an orc settlement?'

Maybe it was a good idea he escaped before girl got bored and came up with some new suicidal plan, like stealing Elminster's pipe or Dove's harp. Just for a laugh of course…

He leaned against the cool stone crenellation and glanced down at the road, absentmindedly making his plans. His keen elven eyes caught a movement down below and he made out the shapes of two people walking towards the path that led away from the keep.

A sharp whistle pierced the night and a huge wolf bounded out of the trees to jump on the taller man. Sand shook his head while he watched it play like a puppy that missed his master. The man was knocked to the ground and kept pushing the animal away to try and get up, only to be knocked back down by heavy paws on his chest.

The shorter figure was doubled over and he could very faintly hear the peal of Kathrynn's laughter. Finally standing, the man swept her into a rough embrace. His lowered head cut off her laughter like a knife.

For a long while Sand stood there in the cool night air watching the couple gets smaller and smaller until they disappeared completely into the dark. Sand allowed himself a small smile before rearranging his face back into its normal dry expression. He suddenly winced. 'By the gods, I hope Casavir doesn't come looking for me… There is nothing worse than seeing a blubbering man in plate armor looking for comfort.

Perhaps I should whip up some invisibility potions…

---Six years later---

Sand sat in his little shop in the merchant's quarter of Waterdeep. The past several years had proven fruitful for him and now he owned one of the most affluent magic shops in the city.

The bell over the door rang, and he looked up from his dusty tome to see two cloaked and hooded figures walk in. He groaned at being pulled away from such fascinating reading, and who wouldn't? The mating rituals of the Otyough were such an interesting subject.

Plastering on his merchant's smile, he walked over to greet them. As he drew near, he paused. There was something familiar about these people, something he couldn't quite place. And there was something about the man especially that made him incredibly uneasy.

Luskan assassins?

The man stood protectively over the smaller female, menace radiating off of him in waves. A bow was slung over his back, the wood shiny from much use. Sand stopped several yards away, all nerves alive and a protection spell ready on his lips.

The woman stepped forward, her face hidden from him in the shadows of the deep hood, and set a paper wrapped bundle down on his counter. Without a word, she inclined her head at him and wrapping her arm comfortably around the man's waist, they both left as silently as they arrived.

He waited a few moments, making sure they were actually gone before approaching the package cautiously. Using a dagger that he had specially made to look for traps or harmful spells, he carefully slit the paper and slid the wrapping off. His eyes sprang wide open when he read the ancient, nearly forgotten language on the cover of the book inside.

Abandoning all caution, he locked up his shop and grabbing the tome, very nearly sprinted to his office. At least he managed to sprint with as much dignity as he could muster…

Quickly lighting candles, he set the book down on his desk. He sunk down into his chair and simply stared at the tome for several minute. Finally, with trembling fingers he carefully opened the front cover and flipped the through a few pages. It was as he thought. The book was in ancient draconic and contained spells that were thought lost thousands of years ago. He let out a shaky breath that he didn't realize he was holding and stroked the pages like a man would stroke a woman.

Noticing a bulge toward the center of the book, he flipped to it to find a folded note stuck in between the ancient pages.

Sand,

Sorry about that time with the dragon.

It took me a while but I think I finally
found something to make up for the
robe a bit.

~K~

He stared at the note, rereading it several times as a grin spread over his face. At long last, the siren's call of the tome in front of him tore his attention away from the small scrap of paper, and with pleasure evident on his face, he began to read.

A/N: And that's it. We're done. It's been quite a ride and I would like to thank all the people who took the time to drive it with me. Feedback of both kinds is always much appreciated!

I am working on something new now that this is done so if your interested, please see my profile.