Fergus cupped his hands together and downed the cold water from the spring behind the house. Mother of Gods, what a day.

He had debated ditching the five Legionnaire escorts. It would not have been hard for him, but maybe the repercussions would have been. Mabel would have killed me.

Eric and Emil had been shocked to see Fergus returning home escorted by the white-cloaked men. Recently it was rare to see the Legionnaires outside of the city walls.

“Everything is fine boys. The Legionnaires just need to take a look around,” Fergus’ made his voice boom even louder than usual in the case that Sylvie was home.

The search had been surprisingly quick. Shortly after they had arrived, a pigeon came. Search has been called off for the fugitives. Return to quarters at once. The Legionnaires had looked bewildered at one another, but after a short apology for the inconvenience, they mounted their horses and took off.

“Dragon balls,” Fergus looked at the two apprentices who still didn’t understand what was going on. “Them dropping everything like that makes me more nervous than being searched.”

Eric just shrugged, but Emil had ran off to grab Fergus a tea.

The shop looked immaculate. Two cast steel anvil stations, and one special anvil that could handle magical elements, were almost gleaming in the setting sun. The boys must have been cleaning all day. Fergus accepted the tea graciously and sat down on a wooden stool.

“You two can take tomorrow off. I am not starting a new order until we are compensated for the order that went missing.”

“Are you sure boss? If I may say so, perhaps its best we stick around,” said Eric. Emil nodded behind him.

Fergus shook his head and clasped his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “No, I don’t think the shop has looked this clean since Celeste was around. I just need to gather my thoughts. We will start again the day after tomorrow, ok?”

The boys both looked worried but didn’t question their master. Their mule and little cart that Fergus had bought them was already outside waiting to get home.

Directly after they left, Fergus’ pigeon arrived back to him. It’s about time Mabel.

He unfolded the little parchment with neat handwriting.

Keep up appearances- stay home! Will meet with you tomorrow night at ‘place’. Families of the deceased taken by Legionnaires. Sylvie is ok.

Fergus sighed, partially in relief but mostly because this did not sound good. He downed his tea and eyeing Sylvie’s arrows quickly ran out back to the horses.

“Oh thank Mother of Gods, Cato, you are ok. Come here boy.” He nuzzled him and gave Cato’s nose a quick kiss. His eyes had started to water.

Fergus had always been an animal lover, but Cato and the rest of the horses felt like family to him.

He patted the big black horse, “Sylvie is ok. Mabel just wrote me. She must be at the hut.”

Cato seemed to understand and neighed softly before walking back to the other horses.

Fergus stood looking at the home he and Celeste had built. The old elven ruin that was their house, his shop, the large stables, they had made every decision together. The sky had deepened into a magnificent pink with streaks of purple, and Fergus batted his hand at the first mosquito he had seen this evening.

Celeste’s voice popped into his head, “I can’t stand when you pace in my kitchen. Go for a run, my darling. The night is yours.” She had gotten up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek before poking him hard on the side. “Seriously, I need to cook. Get out there.”

And that’s what Fergus decided to do. He cupped his hands and dipped them into the cold spring behind their house, he splashed his face, took one big gulp and slipped off his cloak as he ran in the direction of the woods.

--

Avery had taken advantage of not only the library’s secret passage, but she had swiped three books as well. Two on dragons, and one on Romilda. Her aunt had mentioned earlier today that she would like Avery to attend a concert in Hallr and check in on the Cloaked Knights there on her way home from Romilda.

It would be great to have Faren with me. Avery ran her finger down the spine of the first book, ‘At the beginning; Mother of the Gods’. The girls had grown up knowing the basics of the creation of the known world, but neither their mother nor father had placed much emphasis on it.

About ten minutes later, Avery had reached the end of the tunnel. She stepped out cautiously but besides some birds chirping it was quiet. The tree that she had exited from looked so unremarkable that it was no wonder that no one had discovered it. Diella’s head popped up. She had been trying to rest but felt uneasy.

Avery reached into her pocket and pulled out an apple from Alements. Diella crunched happily as Avery mounted. “Sorry we aren’t going home right now. I promise you can rest at Auntie Mabels.”

Blanca was clearing the table; they had eaten sandwiches with fresh wild strawberries for a late lunch, when she saw Avery riding up.

“I didn’t think you’d be here tonight? Everything ok?”

“I ran into Auntie, is Sylvie here?” She climbed out of the saddle. “Oh, hello Santos, I didn’t even see you there.”

Santos grabbed the bridle from Avery. “Hello. What a fine-looking mare. I’ll get her settled with the others. Your Aunt could make do with a small stable.”

Blanca smiled at him and looked around. “I’ll make an enchantment with my Aunt for the horses tonight to keep them safe. But you are right; they will need something eventually more comfortable.”

Blanca gave her sister, to Avery’s surprise, a quick hug. She liked it when they were all together. “Sylvie is trying to get two overtired kids to bathe. Why don’t you finish cleaning up the plates, I’ll take over the kids, and send Sylvie over to you?”

Avery’s eyes sparkled, “So, she really managed it? How did she escape? How did she get Larkin’s family out?”

Blanca chuckled, “I better let Sylvie tell you that story herself. It does involve rats. The kids’ mother is still resting. I can’t imagine what she has been through.”

“She’s so lucky that she can talk to animals.” Avery felt the ‘memory mist’ bottle in her pocket and whispered despite herself. “Later I have something I must show you.”

Blanca was already walking towards the kids. “Ok,” she shouted. Mabel’s bath had never gotten so much use in one day. The toilet situation was still currently ok, but if her father or any others joined, it would eventually become a problem. The two composting toilets were on the edge of where Mabel’s property met the forest.

“Sylvie, Avery just got here. I’ll get these two ready for bed.”

Sylvie had just managed to finish washing Maggie’s hair. “I just realized we don’t have any clean clothes for them. I know Auntie is small, but even her clothes won’t fit them.”

“These are filthy,” said Blanca dropping the clothes back down in a pile. She didn’t dare smell them. “They can sleep in Auntie’s undershirts and then I will see about getting them some new clothes tomorrow.”

Levent stood up in the tub and crossed his arms, “I don’t want to go to bed.”

“Go on, Sylvie. I got this.” Blanca smiled at Levent, “Well then how are you going to hear about the story of the elf and the wyvern?”

“A wyvern? What kind?”

“Frost. I’m not telling you anymore until you are cuddled up in bed.”

Levent rolled his eyes, “fine; it better be a good story.”

--

By the time Mabel got in, it was already dark. Four adults were sitting around her large table sipping on wine, the elf and the large man she didn’t recognize. The three women were all wearing her clothes, albeit ill-fitting, and a large bouquet of flowers were on the centrepiece. Something smelled delicious.

“Oh Auntie, you startled us,” Blanca jumped up to her feet.

Mabel beelined to Sylvie. “You caused quite the stir today.”

“I know, I….”

Mabel hugged her hard. “I am just happy you are ok.” She looked at the elven woman and slightly bowed her head. “You must be Larkin’s wife. My deepest sympathies for your loss.”

The elf bowed back. “Thank you. My name is Elenia. I am in your debt. This hospitatliy is a luxury, and your nieces are so kind. My children are sleeping; I’d be honoured to introduce you to them tomorrow.”

Mabel looked around quickly, “where is Heru?”

Sylvie smiled, “I think the children wore him out. He’s curled up like a baby sleeping next to them.”

Santos reached out his hand, “He can’t help himself. Everyone from the Land of Suns loves children.”

Mabel’s head snapped up, “what brings you here?”

“I am Santos; my Aunt Heike sent me up here to observe the Cloaked Knights.” He was still holding his hand out to her.

“Mother of Gods,” Mabel shook his hand vigorously. “What a world of coincidences. I know your aunt quite well.”

Blanca came back from the kitchen and placed a steaming bowl of carrot soup in front of her.

“Sit down and eat while it's hot. And look at these flowers from Frida. There is a second bouquet I placed in your bedroom.”

Mabel leaned in and smelled the glorious purple flowers. “Oh, how lovely. It’s been ages since I have seen her craft.”

Avery poured her Aunt a glass of wine, “If I may kindly excuse myself. I need to head to bed.”

Blanca and Sylvie looked at each other; they both knew she wasn’t going to sleep.

Avery retired to the smallest of the four rooms in the guest quarters. It had a small wooden white bed, a desk, and long purple curtains. Elenia and her children were in the largest room. Sylvie and Blanca were in the bedroom with the set of double bunks. And Santos had the remaining single room adjacent to her own.

Avery needed to read to unwind before she slept. She had always been this way. When she was younger, she would beg her parents for story after story at bedtime. There was a circular shaped lamp on top of the desk. Avery tapped her finger softly on the top of the orb, and a magical glow lit up the room. She sighed in relief as she laid down on the soft pillow and began to read.