smile, dammit

I can see this as a much longer story. In it, you would expand on the apprenticeship, make the death of Niall much sharper and more heart-wrenching, and draw out the growing relationship between Morgan and Clare with plenty of details. To emphasize the whole idea of outrunning your destiny, Clare would have another subplot going on about finding an unusual or unexpected way to solve another niggling question. Perhaps she would come to this resolution about the time she found herself settling down with Morgan. You have a lovely way with words. I can imagine seeing a row of your books on the library shelf and someone like me checking out out all of them in a binge of reading. PS, I do especially like your phrase, "outrunning your destiny."