A nice quiet room for a family.

Aislyn reached the doorway of her room. She paused, taking several deep breaths to gather herself. The twins were stressed out enough. When she felt calm enough, she stepped inside.

Liadan looked up from where she had made herself comfortable sitting against the wall. "Hi Ais. What did she have to say?"

"A bunch of nonsense. None of it made any sense whatsoever." She glanced at the children. "I think the twins and I should leave at first light for the convent. We're..." she dropped her voice. "Not safe."

Liadan shook her head. "Tabor is still out there and who knows how many with him. They can capture you on the road."

"It's certainly not safe here. It's not far to the convent, maybe Xavier can spare a man or two, especially if Wulfsen has returned by morning."

"You'd stand a better chance staying here and let us kill Tabor." Liadan said.

"I don't want anyone harmed or lose their life because of my stupidity way back when."

"What do you think Tabor will do to the twins if he catches you on the road?" Liadan asked in a low voice.

Aislyn paled. "So you're saying they're in danger whether we stay or go?"

"At least if you're here we can protect you." Liadan said. "Aron and I won't let him get to you."

"Why couldn't he just have stayed gone?"

"I don't know. But we'll get rid of him for good this time." Liadan said.

"They always seem to come back, no matter what we do to them," Aislyn said sadly.

"We'll make sure that this particular momzer doesn't come back." Liadan said determinedly.

Aislyn let out a sigh and leaned back against the wall. That was what everyone had said about Galina. None of them, save Shawn, were real fighters, and he was gone. Sileas was the closest in skill, but Aislyn felt all of the girls should be kept somewhere safe out of Tabor's reach.

"We'll chop him into tiny pieces." Liadan promised.

"And not bury the pieces all in one place or close together?"

Maybe we should burn them." Liadan said.

"And then scatter the ashes in different places. Far far away from wherever we'll be."

"And pee on them!" Liadan said.

Aislyn cracked a small smile. She shifted position. "I wonder if he turned Nelek against me and the children?"

"I don't know." Liadan said. She felt deeply betrayed, she used to think Nelek was a good guy.

Aislyn's heart was broken. She had given Nelek her heart, her love, her trust only for him to turn on her, possibly at Tabor's urging. And she needed her husband's comfort now, but she knew she would never get it.

Liadan sat in a corner of the room and hugged her legs. She was wanting some comfort from her husband herself right now, but he was drunk and Liadan could not be around him. It reminded her too much of her father.

Liadan squirmed. "I'm going to see how Yehudit is doing."

When upset, Liadan always wanted to make sure that her oldest daughter was safe.

Lek fidgeted with a scrap of wood. He was anxious, yet bored.

Aislyn glanced at Millie. "If the clothes are mended, I can take them down to Difyr."

Carefully cradling the bottles of wine, Difyr tapped on the door. "Aislyn? It's Difyr."

"Come on in," Aislyn called out softly. She was sitting on a table at the window, staring outside.

Difyr let herself in. "I was thinking that you could use a drink." Difyr glanced at the twins, unsure of talking to Aislyn in front of them.

"That would be wonderful," Aislyn admitted. She could tell Difyr had something on her mind but didn't wish to push.

"Aalyssa was talking with Ila..." Difyr said, uncorking a bottle. "I, er, think Ila was telling the truth now."

Aislyn frowned, almost appearing angry. "That cannot be. What she is saying cannot possibly be the truth."

"Aalyssa is familiar with magic, and non-humans races..." Difyr considered how to explain what she did not entirely understand to Aislyn.

"She knew your first husband, Tabor- he was a merman? He's supposed to be behind what has happened. From what Ila told her, Aalyssa believes the man who was masquerading as Nelek all this time is a merman who shape-shifted with a potion. I think she said his name was Tazi? Nazi? An odd name." Difyr realized there were not glasses or even cups so she offered Aislyn the uncorked bottle.

"Xavier says he grew taller and escaped- it sounded like he was changing back into who he really is, I don't know if Xavier saw his real face or not."

Aalyssa thought back to that time so long ago, the time she would have much rather have kept in the recesses of her mind. Tabor had mentioned a name similiar to that. The person who wanted to wed Tala maybe? "Mazi?"
This message was last updated by the player at 03:36, Tue 04 Aug 2015.

"That's the name." Difyr said. "A friend of Tabor's I guess. But you see, all this time when Nelek was acting so cold and cruel all this time, it wasn't Nelek at all."

"Then where is my husband? And just how long has be gone? He still abandoned us."

"I don't think he left you willingly. Ila said Nelek was on an island." Difyr said. "I don't know how long this has been going on, but Nelek hasn't been himself for a very long time... Do you remember when he changed?"

Aislyn thought for a while. "He had disappeared for a while, so I hadn't noticed anything until he returned." She tapped her upper lip with her finger. "I want to say it was sometime after Sileas finally emerged from the schoolhouse."

"Such a long time." Difyr said softly. "I hope Ila can find that island she saw Nelek on." And that Nelek is still living and had not been murdered by mermen. She silently thought to herself.

"Yes, a long time." Aislyn's heart clenched as different emotions coursed through her. She didn't even know how she felt right now.

Difyr gestured to the wine, encouraging Aislyn to drink. "He still cares about you. Ila said he was asking after you."

Aislyn accepted the bottle, pulled out the stopper and took a drink. "I just...I don't know what to think or what I am thinking. I don't know how to proceed."

"I was stunned myself." Difyr said. "I did not know what to do either. Do you want to speak with Xavier, or Ila again?"

Aislyn shook her head. "No, I think I just need to sit and think this through."

"Don't worry, we'll get Nelek back." Difyr promised and patted Aislyn's shoulder.

"And then I have to figure out how to rebuild my marriage." Aislyn glanced at her remaining children. "And how to get the twins to trust him and how to tell him the rest of the children were lost."

Difyr knew losing the children would devastate Nelek. He was a family man and loved all his children deeply. "You can help each other get through this."

"So much pain and bad feelings. Even if it weren't him, how do we rebuild trust?"

"He'll still be Nelek." Difyr said.

"I know but I've spent so long being in pain and hating him for leaving me. Us. And for what happened to Millie," Aislyn said sadly.

"And I thought he was sick." Difyr looked at Aislyn, and asked carefully; "You never had any clue that he wasn't Nelek?"

In reply to Difyr Bateman (msg # 53):

"He wasn't spending any time with me alone. He was barely at home before he disappeared," Aislyn admitted. "I wasn't around him enough to know if it was him or not." Aislyn closed her eyes for a second. "Considering how many times people have walked away from me, I didn't really surprise me that he'd had enough of me and left."

"Nelek would never do that to you." Difyr said. "He loves you."

Aislyn wiped at her tears. "That's what I kept telling myself the entire time that he was gone. No, my husband wouldn't leave me. But yet, I had to face that that was exactly what seemed to happen. It's as scar on my heart and I don't know how to get past it now, knowing the truth."

"I'm sure you'll find a way after he's found." Difyr assured her.

"Let's hope so. I'm more worried how Millie will react to him."

"After she knows it wasn't really her father who tried to kill her..." Difyr said.

"What the heart and the head say and do are often two different things. Despite it not being Nelek, to her it was him. That was the person that she saw and feared in those moments."

Difyr sighed. Getting off that island would only be half the battle for Nelek; earning back the trust of his family would be hard. And they did not even know where the island was yet. Difyr took a sip of wine.

Aislyn took another drink herself. She had no idea how to work any of this out. Nothing ever could have prepared her for such a thing.

"Shawn mentioned that the Buckley family was prone to strange troubles." Difyr said.

"There is an understatement," Aislyn said. "Galina. Mermen. Murderous fiancees. Magic wielders. Demons."
This message was last updated by the player at 21:42, Tue 04 Aug 2015.

"At least Galina is gone." Difyr was familiar with Galina and what that evil woman did, and got others to do for her.

"At least there's that. Although it almost feels too easy."

"Too easy?" Difyr gasped. "After all everyone went through?"

"We thought she was destroyed before. Long before Sileas came to the village, long before Yehudit was born," Aislyn said.

"Didn't you burn her corpse last time?" Difyr asked. "That should have finished her for good."

"I'm not sure. I was watching the children. I know they were in a worry to get Shawn to you, so I don't know if they burned her or not."

"At least we're dealing with mermen this time, not Galina." Difyr rolled a cork between her fingers. "How do we defeat Tabor and Mazi?"

"I have never met Mazi. Tabor was peaceful the last time, at least until the wedding night when he was angry and told me to stay with Papa. The next morning he left town with another. We never had to worry about defeating him. I know they are super strong."

"Maybe Aalyssa knows how." Difyr said hopefully. "There must be some way."

Aislyn thought for a moment. "We should mention to Wulfsen an Xander to search the manor tomorrow for books. Keegan probably had something about them."

"Brighid's first husband, right?" Difyr considered it. "He had magical items, didn't he?"

"He did. Kegan had books on every subject you could think of, including many on magic. He also had amulets and all sorts of things. The manor is a treasure trove. Unless of course it was pillaged during the attack."

Difyr shuddered to think f what those raiders would do with magic. "I hope everything is still there."

"I hope it is as well. I'm sure Wulfsen will be able to spare a dungeon cell or something to store everything in for a while."

"He had that much?" Difyr asked.

"He had a whole library of books. Sileas would be in her element, we wouldn't see her for days, if not weeks, if she could get her hands on them. As I said, all types of subject matter. I'm not sure exactly of how many items, but I do remember he had a room dedicated to them."

"We'll need a lot of wagons to transport everything, a lot of horses or oxen too." Difyr said. She wished Brighid was still alive, she might know what was worth taking and what could be left behind.

"I'm sure they'll prioritize and make several trips. Wulfsen may send some people to Portside to purchase more. No doubt the raiders took all the horses and wagons. Probably my cow too."

"They seemed to grab anything of value." Difyr said.

"They'll bring Eleanor back when she throws one of her fits with her milk." Aislyn very nearly smiled, thinking of the unusual cow.

"Ais?" Liadan tapped on the door before opening it. "Is Yehudit in here?"

Aislyn jerked awake with a frown. What? Why would Lia even begin to think Yehudit would be with her and the twins. "No," she called back softly so she wouldn't disturb the twins.

Liadan sighed.

"We just got back from the village, where could she have gone now?"

"Do you really need me to answer that? She's with Sileas. Wait. What were you doing in the village?"

"Sileas got it into her head that Brie was still alive so she had to go there and Yehudit tagged along... Well it turns out Brie was and is still alive." Liadan admitted. "But I still think I ought to punish Yehudit for taking off like she did."

"Brie's still alive!" Aislyn was shocked and she hoped it was for a pleasant reason. "Somehow Yehudit needs to understand there are certain situations she's not equipped to follow Sileas into. But I don't know how you'll get it through to her." Aislyn sighed. "How would you punish her? If you ground her, she'll just sneak out."
This message was last updated by the player at 03:12, Mon 21 Sept 2015.

"Brie's alive but they really hurt her..." Liadan's voice broke. "She's in the healing room. That girl who helped Millie in her shop, Pinja, is alive too but htey really hurt her too. The momzers." Liadan slumped against the wall. "I don't know how to get through to her, she never wants to leave Sileas's side."

Aislyn could only imagine what had been done to Brie and Pinja. She glanced at Millie when Lia mentioned Pinja, but Millie had cried herself to sleep and was spent. "I will go see them tomorrow. The problem as I see it is that Yehudit has a stubborn, refusing to see reason side. I can't imagine how she got that."

"Aron can be so stubborn at times, it's like talking to a stone wall when he disagrees with me." Liadan said, a tear slipping from her eye. "I think we're in trouble."

"He got that from Mama." Aislyn eyed Lia.  She gently lay the twins down and stood. After stretching, she walked over to Lia. "What's wrong?"

"He wants to leave. He's been talking about going to the monastery." Liadan spoke in a choked voice.

Of all the things Aislyn imagined Lia would say, that wasn't it. "The monastery? He hasn't mentioned that in years. Why? Is it because the inn is gone? We all lost everything."

"That's only part of it. He thinks I don't see Yehudit as his. He thinks the children don't need him... that I don't need him." Liadan was struggling to compose herself but the tears escaped her.

Aislyn reached for Lia's hand. She let the part about Yehudit to the side for now. "Do the children ever go to him when they need help with some thing or have hurt themselves? Do they go to him with any of the home assignments Sileas gives out? I've got to tell you, some of them are difficult." Aislyn eyed Lia. "Do you give him the chance to take care of you and protect you?"

"The children hardly ever even come to me with their problems... EIther they're really independent or have already realized what a terrible mother I am... They don't come to me for help with school stuff- why should they? I can read but you know how uneducated I really am." Liadan spun a chipped stone with a finger. "I... sort of. It's usually quicker if I just take care of myself- he should concentrate on protecting the children instead of worrying about me."

"It's not that simple. Men like to feel like they are needed by their wives and children. Obviously they are not going to him for assistance with problems either which is...troubling...and makes me wonder where they are going." Aislyn shook her head. "The simple fact is that Aron feels like a failure as a husband and father and therefore he wants to run."

"We all need him." Liadan scowled. "He knew back when we were still courting how I'm used to protecting myself... Before we were courting. Why does he expect that to have changed?"

"It may have started with not feeling like the children need him and grew from there. I'm merely speculating on this of course. Something must have happened, or not happened, to make this build."

"Nothing not happened!" Liadan objected and blushed.

"You said the children weren't coming to you or Aron when they need help. Therefore there was a not happen. Or he saw who they go to."

"I thought you meant... Nevermind." Liadan sighed. "Maybe Sileas is such a good teacher they don't need help."

"It's possible. But there must be a reason that Aron feels this way now. Maybe they're having Sileas help them and Aron resents it."

"I don't know... We've been having trouble for a while." Liadan said.

"My apologies, I didn't know. I've been wrapped up in my own marital troubles."

"But that's not Nelek, it's been one of those mermen..." Liadan said. "I know this is Aron. And I'm losing him."

"I didn't know that then," Aislyn pointed out. "The two of you need to sit and talk it out. Being stubborn will solve nothing. And you know, I bet if he went the monastery, he'd be back in no time because he'd be missing his family."

"Well if he knocked off being so damned stubborn we'd have a shot of working things out." Liadan said.

"Everyone involved has to stop being stubborn."

"But I'm right." Liadan said.

Aislyn gave her a stern look. "You can't possibly know if you're right when you don't even know the problem. You are both going to have to go into it honestly and openly, and prepare to be gutted."

Liadan bristled. "I never criticized your relationships."

"I'm not criticizing, Lia. If you don't want my advice, that's fine. I assumed you wanted it since you seemed upset." Aislyn turned to go back to the twins.

"Wait." Liadan said. "What do I do?"

"Talk to him. Honestly and openly. Don't go in with the attitude that you're right and he's wrong. Remember that while he does things that upset or irritate you, the same goes for him. Listen to what he has to say, find a middle ground and find ways to fix things."

"I'm always honest with Aron." Liadan said.

"But do you let him be honest and acknowledge his feelings?"

"I let him talk all he wants." Liadan said.

Aislyn scowled at Lia. "Do you support him in any way?"

"... Yeah." Liadan said. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know. I'm just asking. You need to have this talk with Aron."

"I can't like pick him flowers and make everything better?" Liadan asked.

"It doesn't work that way. There needs to be a change in actions. Though I'm sure Aron wouldn't turn the flowers away."

"We usually just take the honeymoon suite..." Liadan said, sadly thinking about how the entire in was gone now.

"This is the time now for rebuilding everything," Aislyn said.

"I told him we could rebuild after the momzers were gone, but he didn't think it would be worth it." Liadan fidgeted with the broken stone.

"I doubt there will be many travellers until we've rebuilt and everyone knows the danger is past."

"The village is my home." Liadan said. "I want those momzers dead and my home back."

"We all do. I suppose since we have a lord now, a lot will depend on how Wulfsen wishes to rebuild the village as well," Aislyn pointed out gently. "It has been a long time since we had a protector."

"I'm going back whether this lord plans it or not." Liadan said. "I've never had anyone tell me where to live before."

"I doubt he is going to tell anyone where to live. Just the layout, the types of building and whatnot."

"My family will live where the inn is... And where the Black Raven was can be the refuse pile." Liadan decided.

Aislyn shook her head. "It sounds like a plan. Hopefully Wulfsen will hold a meeting to plan the rebuilding with all."

"It'll work if my marriage doesn't fall apart." Liadan said.

"Concentrate on that first."

"Easier to rebuild the inn." Liadan said.

"I'm pretty certain there will be a lot of work to be done clearing the area before rebuilding can begin."

"I know. Still easier." Liadan said.

"I don't remember anyone ever saying marriage was easy."

"I just wanted Yehudit to not be labeled a bastard..." Liadan sighed. "Well not really... I loved Aron and I still love him."

Aislyn jerked her head up. "And how many times have you said or made Aron feel like you married him so Yehudit wouldn't be a bastard?"

"Never!" Liadan said. "It was Aron's idea to marry me right away and pretend we had been married longer so Yehudit could have a father, though I think it was your father's idea first... A marriage in name only was how it started, though we did love each other, I wasn't ready..." Liadan wiped her eyes.

"I know it was Papa and Aron's idea. I never said it was your idea." Aislyn paced. "But I have heard you repeatedly refer to Yehudit as my daughter, not our daughter. How do you suppose that makes Aron feel when he loves her like she was his own?"

"I refer to all my children as my daughters or my sons." Liadan frowned. "Don't you call Millie your daughter too?"

"Of course. But when ever I spoke with Nelek about anything to do with them, I referred to them as ours, because they are. Were." Aislyn glanced down at the floor.

"I can't remember if I did or not." Liadan frowned. "Don't worry Ais, we'll find Nelek. And kill that momzer who pretended to be him."

"What I am trying to say is that Aron needs to feel like an equal in the parenting. He needs to know you consider them "our children" not just yours." Aislyn glanced down. "When I said were I was meaning the lost ones. I hope we can find Nelek for the sake of the twins. It will be hard for Millie and I to move past some things though."

"But it wasn't Nelek... The real Nelek is a decent guy." Liadan stared at Aislyn for a moment, horror creeping into her face. "Oh no, the fake Nelek didn't... you know... you, did he?"

"No, he was as cold and distant to me as he could be. When he bothered being near. But that still hurts and what was done to Millie....I mean, I know my husband is good, decent and loving. The problem is...the memories that will come to us when we look at him."

"Well, one less thing to be bothered about." Liadan gave a deep sigh of relief. "I don't know what to say... Aron has always been Aron and never had anyone disguised at him hurt me or anyone I love."

"It's all rather hard to believe. I would like to say my heart will overrule what my head says but until it happens, I don't know. I mean. at this point, how will I even trust that he is my Nelek when he is found?"

"There has to be things the real Nelek would know but no one else would." Liadan said.

"I would imagine so, but who knows what they did to him to get so much information that he's been fooling us all that time."

"He avoided you, and pretty much everyone else that knows Nelek." Liadan said.

"For the most part that's true."

"You'll know the real Nelek when you see him." Liadan assured her.

Aislyn shrugged. Fair or not, through no fault of hers or apparently Nelek's, Aislyn had long ago given up on her marriage.

"You want him, don't you, Ais?" Liadan asked.

"Nelek? It would be nice to be happy again. But I have to get past memories created with the false Nelek and he is going to be mightily unhappy that four of our children perished under my care."

"That wasn't your fault." Liadan said. "Don't you see? You need the real Nelek even more to help you through this."

"I wish he'd been here with me through this," Aislyn said. She turned away and hugged herself.

Liadan teared up as she thought about her slain nieces and nephews.

"Ais... If you need anything you know I'm there. You and the twins can stay in the room with us too if you want."

"I know. But it sounds like Brie will need you more." Aislyn glanced at her sister-in-law. "Is your room large enough?"

"It's going to be cramped no matter what." Liadan said. "Maybe we should all just claim a larger room."

"Is there anything larger available? I think Brie and her family should be with us too. We all need to be supporting one another."

"What I was thinking." Liadan said. "All three of our families."

"Yes. We should speak with Wulfsen and Xavier on the morrow about it."

"If I look around I can probably find a big enough room." Liadan said.

"You should get some rest," Aislyn admonished.

"I will. After I find Yehudit." Liadan yawned.

Aislyn nodded, "I should get back to the twins."

Liadan nodded. "'night, Ais."

Liadan slipped out of the room and went looking for her daughter.

Aislyn returned to the twins and snuggled back up with them.

Lek's eyes opened. "I dreamed that Aunt Brie and Pinja were still alive."

In reply to Lek Gerthrim (msg # 177):

"And you would be correct, although they are badly injured. Aunt Lia and I were just discussing finding a larger room so that when Aunt Brie is ready, all three of our families can be together to support one another."

Lek sat up. "They're alive?" Lek nudged Millie awake.

"Millie! Aunt Brie is alive! And Pinja too!"

Millie smiled for the first time since the attack. "Really and truly? They're alive?"

Aislyn nodded. "Badly injured but alive and under the care of Difyr and Aalyssa."

Lek bounced. "Can we go see them now?"

"I think we should let them rest right now. Difyr probably has given them something to help them sleep. I'll check with Difyr in the morning about visiting."

"I just want to see them." Lek said. "We'll be really quiet."

"We'll go  see if Difyr will permit it. Remember they are badly injured and I don't know what those injuries are. It may be very difficult to look at, darling."

Lek was already up and putting his shoes on. "It can't be any worse than what we've already seen."

Aislyn wasn't too certain of that. She leaned toward her daughter. "I don't think you should come along, not until I see what things are like."

Millie was clearly torn, she didn't want to be alone and she wanted to check on her aunt and friend. She got up. I'm coming along."

Lek thought it obvious that his sister would be coming too. He trotted to the door.

Aislyn left the room and headed toward the healer area.

Lek woke up, sniffling from crying in his sleep.

Millie was on her side, her nose nearly touching the wall. She hadn't slept at all during the night.

Lek splashed a little water on his face. His face felt dry and gritty.

Millie curled into a ball.

Lek went over to Millie and touched her shoulder. "Millie?"

"Morning, Lek," she said without moving.

"What's wrong?" Lek asked.

"Everything is wrong. And so different. It's wrong. And it's scary." Millie said. "I don't feel safe any more."

"I'll protect you." Lek promised Millie.

"We can't be by one another's side forever and ever," Millie said. "I love you for the offer but it's just not practical."

"We're twins. We stay together." Lek said simply.

"I'm certain your future wife will be surprised to learn of that," Millie said.

"She'll like you." Lek said reassuringly.

"She might like me, but I doubt she'll want me underfoot all the time."

"You're never underfoot. You're too tall." Lek teased.

Millie gave him half a smile. "You know what I mean."

Lek smiled too. "Maybe I won't get married. Maybe I'll be getting under your husband's feet."

Millie snorted. "I think I am officially what they call on the shelf. Men are lucky, they can wed at any age. Women are expected to be fairly young due to having to bear children." Millie shrugged. "I was always far too shy to garner any interest and anyway, I've seen what men do to women. I don't want it."

"Mama was older than you when she got married." Lek said.

Mille shrugged. "There are always exceptions. There are of course, those who choose not to wed.

"I was hoping to be an uncle someday." Lek said wistfully.

In reply to Lek Gerthrim (msg # 211):

"I've never really given the matter much thought. I mean, being a wife and mother. I always dreamed of having my shop and making it successful." Millie shrugged. "I doubt many will be in the market for dresses for quite a while now. And all of my coin was tied up in my inventory and shop. Maybe someday down the road, when things are normal and I have my shop up and going again, I might take in a child like Mama did with Tala."

"But people have to wear something... even if it's more plain." Lek said.

"Eventually yes. The priority right now, and rightfully so, will be rebuilding their homes." Millie shrugged. "We will see. For all we know, the King will send clothing among the supplies once he receives word of what happened from Lord Thornblade."

Aislyn woke from her restless sleep. She glanced out the window and stretched. She looked at the twins. "How about if we go down to the kitchen and see what we can find to start fixing breakfast for everyone?"

Lek's stomach gave a growl. "Okay."

Mille tried her very best to find a way to get out of going to the kitchen. Unfortunately she came up with nothing so she got to her feet to follow along.

Lek burst out the door.

Aislyn hurried after Lek, Millie just a few steps behind her.

Aislyn entered the room before Nelek, bearly holding back her tears.  But once she sat on the bed, they flowed. Aislyn buried her face in her hands as sobs wracked her body.

Nelek sat on the bed next to Aislyn and wrapped his arms around her.

Aislyn leaned against him and cried.

Nelek held her close and rubbed her back.

"I didn't want this for Lek. He should be helping you build the house, not getting so close to danger and death." Aislyn  hiccupped and sniffled.

"I know." Nelek said. "Lek should be a carpenter... But at least he is learning how to defend himself."

"But he's only learning. He isn't ready to go into battle."

"Hopefully he never will." Nelek said. "Wulfsen promised to keep Lek as safe as he can. Lek will probably spend more time delivering messages than even being close to battle lines."

"War doesn't always respect battle lines," Aislyn wailed.

"That's why it's good that he is learning how to fight- he could wind up having to fight for his life anyways." Nelek said.

"We've been through enough. It's time for peaceful lives."

"We certainly have earned it." Nelek said.

"I just want to wrap us and the children in some sort of padding and hide away somewhere safe," Aislyn mused.

"We have our friends and family close, this is the safest we can be." Nelek said.

"But it's not safe enough. Not for any of us!" Aislyn exclaimed.

"It's the best we have though." Nelek said, rubbing comforting circles on Aislyn's back. She was getting so worked up he was beginning to think she needed some of that tea from Difyr. "Do you want me to make you some tea?"

She shook her head. "I want my little boy home with us where he belongs."

Nelek sighed. "Lek is a grown man now."

"Then I'll just say I want my son home with us where he belongs."

"I know." Nelek said, giving her a hug.

Her tears spent, Aislyn leaned against him.

"Would you like to take a walk?" Nelek asked, thinking it would do them both good. "The battlements, or the garden?"

"I suppose." Nothing would make Aislyn better until her children were all safe with her, but she didn't mind spending the time with her husband.

Nelek stood up, and offered his hand to Aislyn.

Aislyn slipped her hand into his and stood. She wiped at her eyes with her free hand.

Nelek lead Aislyn out of the room. He pretended to not hear the noises coming from his brother-in-law's room.

Aislyn rolled her eyes as they passed Lia and Aron's room.

Nelek blushed and hurried along.