Sileas caught the movement of Yehudit toppling off the stool and then staying on the floor. It was obvious, even from the distance between them, that Yehudit's ankle was bothering her. She glanced at Oscar and placed her hand on her stomach for a brief second. If she couldn't even keep her cousin safe, what made her think she could protect her children. She only had a few bites left on her plate and she pushed it away.

"Are you all right?" Wulfsen asked, worried that Sileas was going to throw up.

"Hmm?" Sileas said distractedly. "Oh, I'm fine," she lied. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears. She doubted she would ever get away from the guilt over what had happened.

Wulfsen slipped an arm around her. "What's wrong?"

"Yehudit's ankle is bothering her. I can see it even from here. It's my fault she was injured so badly, and I was just wondering why I think I can keep my children safe, when I couldn't keep her safe," Sileas said quietly, a tear slipping down her cheek.

"You killed the man who broke her ankle." Wulfsen said, "And you're not going to be alone, I'll help protect the child." Wulfsen wiped away the tear.

Lek was feeling really tired and sore as he came down to the kitchen.

"I know, but it didn't fix the ankle or help take away the pain she still feels," Sileas whispered, allowing another tear to fall. "Her mother was right when she said I only brought pain to Yehudit."

"That's not your fault." Wulfsen gave her a squeeze. He looked up and saw Lek come into the kitchen. "All done in the stables? Good, now go clean and polish my armor. You'll know you're done when you can see your reflection in it."

"But it is. Andy kidnapped Yehudit to hurt me," Sileas replied before Lek came in to view. She quirked her eyebrow a bit as Wulfsen spoke to Lek.

Lek blinked. He had expected a break, or at least some weapon training. "Oh, okay." Lek turned and left.

"I promised his mother I'd do my best to make him quit if he wasn't up to this." Wulfsen watched the the young man go, then turned back to Sileas. "It's not your fault that Andy was evil and did evil things."

"Ahh." Sileas glanced down at her hands. "But what if my rejection is what turned him toward evil?"

"You didn't make him do anything." Wulfsen said. "It was all his own choices."

Having gotten through the gate with a little magic, Bai had donned an apron he found drying on a line. It was still a little damp but he thought he could pass as the kitchen help if no one looked too hard at him, or wonder what a kitchen worker was doing with a staff.

The artifacts were close, he could sense them. He entered the kitchen and tried to look like he belonged there.

In reply to Wulfsen Thornblade (msg # 87):

"It doesn't make me feel any less guilty, no matter how much I tell myself that," Sileas replied. "I was able to manage until Aunt Lia pointed out that I was a danger to her and seeing the pain she is in."

"Look, I don't see Yehudit blaming- who the hell is that over there?" Wulfsen did not recognize the boy in the apron edging towards Sileas's rooms.

Sileas followed his gaze. "I don't know, but he's certainly not from the village, he's not kitchen staff and why is heading toward my rooms?" She got to her feet, pulling her dagger.

Bai caught the movement. He swore and charged the door. He began running down the stairs to the rooms. If he didn't destroy the stuff now he did not think he would get another chance before they were used, and if these were the people who did terrible things in the village without magic he hated to think what they would do with these artifacts.

Wulfsen got up from the table in a rush.

Sileas ran after Wulfsen. How dare someone encroach on her private space. She hoped her mother or Yehudit had locked the door before coming back upstairs.

Bai blasted the door off its hinges with magic, not even bothering to check if it was locked first. He spun around and held up his staff.

"Back off!" Bai ordered. "Stay back or someone could get hurt!"

Sileas's eyes flashed with anger. "Just why are you breaking in to my rooms? You're damn right someone will be hurt. It will be the criminal who is breaking in to another's rooms." The pendant heated against her chest. Sileas tugged on the chain so it hung atop her tunic.

"Oh ****!" Bai recognized the pendant. He braced himself as he drew energy into his staff. "You're a thief! Drop that pendant!"

"I'll do no such thing. It's the only thing my father left me that was personal. Besides, it won't come off."