And just like that Drago vanished. The paralyzing spell broke the instant he was gone. No sooner was Aidan free than he rushed to Flame’s side. Drago hadn’t been gentle, and her neck was a bloody mess, but she was still breathing. “Flame, Flame, wake up!”

“Fear not, she shall live,” said a gentle voice. Aidan looked up to see the cleric Drago kneeling next to him. The cleric placed his hands on Flame Song’s head. There was a faint glow that spread down from the long-fingered hands and made its way through Flame’s body. The glow gradually faded away, leaving no trace of the wounds that had been there. The cleric removed his hands and Flame opened her eyes.

“Aidan?”

“Thank heavens, you’re all right.”

“Did we win?”

Aidan helped Flame to her feet, saying, “I guess so.”

“Aidan, Flame,” Brianna beckoned them over. “It’s time for us to leave.” Turning to where Drago stood with the mirror versions of Lon and Lavasida by his side Brianna gave a little bow. “Thank you, all of you, for helping us. We owe you the existence of our world.”

“Our pleasure,” said Lavasida, looking to Aidan’s eyes very odd in his shining paladin’s armor. “It has been interesting, to say the least. It’s quite odd to see someone who looks so much like my own dear wife and yet is so different.” Woah, Lavasida and Brianna married? That’s just weird. Aidan looked over at the Lavasida he knew. The Dark Lord had a strange expression on his face, something like… longing? Regret? I wonder if my other self is married to Flame, or if he’s with somebody else?

But Aidan’s mental meanderings were cut short as Brianna stepped up to the pedestal and gathered up the shards lying there. The familiar shifting, swirling, blurring sensation came over Aidan and when it cleared he was back in the courtyard of the queen’s tower. Just like that they were home and the adventure was over.

Yurik was there to greet them. “Did you get the shards?”

“We got them,” said Brianna. “Now lets put things right.”

The sun was rising above the distant hills as Aidan stood outside Queen Tara’s tower. Above him the sky was once again whole. He sighed heavily as he looked up.

“Something wrong, Aidan?”

“Oh hi Brianna.”

“You don’t look too happy.”

“I just… I’m tired of being rescued. I’m tired of never being able to help. I’m tired of standing by and watching while those I care for are hurt. I couldn’t help Flame Song, Brianna. I couldn’t do anything.”

“None of us could, Aidan.”

“But this sort of thing seems to happen to me all the time. What good was I while we were looking for the shards? You didn’t need me.”

“Aidan…”

“No. I just can’t do it anymore, Brianna. I’m not cut out to be a hero. Seymore told me that some people are meant to be little heroes, do good but small things. I think that’s me. I’m not meant to change the world. I don’t belong in the Clan.”

“Aidan, the Clan isn’t just for heroes. We need all kinds of people to do many things. My Lon isn’t a fighter either, he’s a healer. That’s his part. There’s times when we need somebody who’s good with locks.”

Aidan shook his head. “It’s not just that.” Then he smiled. “You’ve heard our good news, I’m sure.”

“Yes. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. Flame and I have wanted a child for a long time. But that’s another straw added, Brianna. I want to be a father. I’m not saying I couldn’t be a good parent and stay in the Clan, your wonderful kids are evidence enough that its possible, but… I just worry so much about Flame. You know she almost lost the baby when Drago attacked her? If that Saint Drago hadn’t been there, who knows? And… what if one of us is killed? Or both? I don’t want to leave this child an orphan. I just feel like I have to leave the Clan.”

Brianna put her hand on Aidan’s shoulder and smiled down at the much shorter aerian. “If you feel you need to leave active adventuring, then that’s what you should do. But you can never leave the Clan. There’s a reason why it’s called a Clan instead of a company or fellowship or any of the other things we might have called it. It’s a Clan because we’re a family, and family is forever. We’ll always be there for you.”

“Thanks Brianna. And thanks for understanding.”