EPILOGUE

Both Fran and Fynn caught colds, their immune systems too weak to fend off a cold Welsh night. Hannah nursed them carefully for about a week, before Fran went back to work, leaving Fynn to play on the sympathy vote for a bit longer.
Amanda did indeed speak her first word. It was 'Nana', because she didn't quite get the hang of an H sound. Fran and Fynn were united in their pretend-sulk.
After about a fortnight, the pair sat down at the kitchen table for a serious discussion. Afterwards, Hannah asked Fran how it went.
"Well, we're pretty much friends. I mean, we still love each other, probably, but we want different lives. I want to be a big city hack, and he wants to be a sheep farmer in some God forsaken corner of Snowdonia. "
"And Amanda?"
"There's two things to remember with Amanda. One is that she's the Last Enchantress, and the other that she's a child who needs a decent upbringing. Those who want to hurt her know she's mine, and they'll be checking me out as soon as they know I'm here."
Hannah nodded. "She's going back with Fynn."
"Yeah." There were tears in Fran's eyes. "It's a good life for a child, a sheep farm. Better than a cramped city flat, with a mother working full time. Fynn adores her, and hopefully you'll help out-"
"You know I will, there's no need to ask."
"Thanks. I really appreciate having you here, you know that? Anyway, yes. So that seems to be everything sorted, then."
"Well," Hannah twisted her hands in her cuffs. "There's one thing you should be aware of. Fran, I just talked to Gregor."
"What is it?"
"Riarté. He's been murdered."

Finis

© Naomi Claydon, 2000