When they returned to the Gryphon, Captain Mond took Li and Ardlac to his cabin.

"I assume you both wish to leave now that things have been concluded?" he began.

Ardlac glanced at Li, who managed a nod. "I would like to return home to accept the position offered me at the court in Solaris. As long as Li wishes to leave now, I will also will be."

Li nodded again. "I would like to return to Solaris with Ardlac. I would like to leave now, as I no longer have a sentence to serve."

Captain Mond rose from the desk where they all sat. "Of course." He went to a chest nearby and returned a moment later with a small wooden box. "This is the portion of your earnings I would normally have kept if you had truly been a criminal. I hope that it helps you establish yourself in Solaris."

Li took the box and noted the rattle of coins as he did so. "Thank you."

"I expect the Gryphon will be leaving here in three days," Mond continued. "I hope that is enough time for you to acquire transport to Solaris. I won't require you to assist in any of the ship's duties and at this moment consider your employment ended," he added, looking to Ardlac. "You will both, of course, still be paid your full shares for the current haul."

"Thank you," they both told him.

"And thank you for believing me when I told you I wasn't a murderer," Li added.

Captain Mond actually smiled. "I had my doubts already. You never seemed to settle in among the crew quite the same as other cuffers we've had. I must say your magistrates must have doubted it, too, and knew it was wrong not to call in a truth-knower. I've never had a murderer sentenced to my ship. They are usually put to death."

"Then perhaps they did something right," Ardlac muttered.

It seemed to take Li's mind a rather long time to finally realize the significance of what had happened that day. It wasn't until that evening, as he and Ardlac began to pack their things, that it finally overcame him and he sat down on their bunk, stunned. Ardlac seemed to understand what had come over him. He sat down beside Li and put his arms around him, holding him close while he cried.

"I'm finally free of this," he whispered, when he could finally manage words. "I don't need to be called a cuffer any longer. No one needs to believe me to be a murderer. The court freed me. I don't need to fear for my life or yours fighting pirates and necromancers and merchant ships anymore."

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Ardlac kissed his forehead. "I am just as relieved," he murmured. "I don't need to fear for you any longer, at least, not because we are facing battles at sea and we might be killed. I'm thankful you wish to spend life in Solaris with me. I never wanted to return to my father's home alone."

"I love you," Li replied.

Ardlac hugged him tighter. "And I love you. I'm thankful we were brought together, though not about how it happened."

Li agreed. He was deeply thankful that he had been able to meet Ardlac and become close to him, though he still wished he could have remained with Ash. He knew Ardlac also wished to have never lost Seith, and he felt no guilt for wishing there had been a way for all four of them to have met and become close, though he knew that his and Ash's experiences in Mahlon would have gotten in the way of such a wonderful love forming amongst them all. Ardlac had explained that such things were not unusual in Nairiume, but the cultural expectations in Mahlon were that only two people would be intimately involved at any time. At least it seemed Ash had stopped feeling this way after his death, as he and Seith had formed an intimate bond.

Li thought back to all his time on the Gryphon, and marvelled at the difference in how he felt as a member of the crew and as Ardlac's partner. Though he still did not entirely feel as if the ship were his home, he felt more comfortable among the crew, even if they did still believe him to be a cuffer. He planned to set that to rights before he left.

As for his relationship with Ardlac... Li had never expected to find love again after holding Ash's body in his arms. He had never hoped to be loved or love again in return. And when he met Ardlac, he had not expected to ever love or be loved by the man who was so cold and unwelcoming. He thought back to their slowly-growing friendship, their talks and Ardlac's warming toward him, how they began seeking comfort with each other both emotionally and physically - first with caution and awkwardness, then with courage and passion - and finally how they realized their love. His heart still swelled at the memory of their first kiss, deep in the night while the whales called outside the ship.

He turned and gently caressed Ardlac's cheek, then leaned in and kissed him softly. Ardlac smiled into the kiss and pulled Li back onto the bunk. They lay there for a long time, kissing and caressing and making love as the sun set outside.

Li made his story clear to the crew as he walked among them and said his goodbyes the following day. Aricka and Garstin had known something was afoot when he and Ardlac had not been in their usual watch shifts. They were both disappointed to see him leave, but happy for him and the opportunity he had been given.

"You did always tell me you weren't a cuffer. I suppose I'll believe you now," Aricka relented. Li laughed and hugged her.

Ardlac joined them from where he had been saying farewell to the Tetimi pair.

"Is Hayel disappointed to become the only Asir on the Gryphon?" Li asked.

Ardlac shrugged. "They didn't seem to be. I'm certain they will be just fine."

They said a final round of goodbyes, including spending several minutes with Captain Mond, then left the Gryphon for the merchant ship bound for Solaris that Ardlac had paid for transport on. Li took one final look at the Gryphon as they sailed away a short time later and felt a sense of finality, as if a horrid chapter in his life was finally ending, and a new, beautiful one beginning. Ardlac took his hand and smiled at him.