"She seems to be doing as well as can be expected. She hasn't opened up about her feelings, but she seems to be distracting herself."

"She's probably still sorting her feelings out to herself." Difyr set down the ladle. "It's good that she has you," Difyr recalled how Brighid crawled into Shawn's arm earlier. "And she isn't shutting you out."

"That was what I felt as well, and she'll probably more likely to open up to Sileas. I thought she could with Lia too, but, well, it seems that option is out. I hope it means she knows I am here for her and will help her through it. I'd never push her away."

"Hopefully Mrs Buckley will un-stiffen that neck of hers. Mrs Spenser needs a friend, not someone criticizing her daughter." Difyr picked up another ladle and ladled some broth into a bowl for Pinja.

"I hope Lia gets over it soon. That was the last thing Brie needed, and besides, Sileas is an adult. I'm not about to tell her what to do," Shawn added. "Can I help hand out bowls?"

"Yes." Difyr nodded. "Yehudit is too. Mrs Buckley must be very unhappy about her going with Sileas to Portside."

"No doubt." Shawn picked up several bowls. "Even if Sileas tried to leave Yehudit behind, the girl is as stubborn as her mother. She would force herself in to the journey or follow behind, all on her own."

"I do wish I could have fixed her ankle though." Difyr felt a twinge of guilt and failure. Yehudit still couldn't walk on it after all this time, it wasn't going to get any better than it was now. Someone so young shouldn't need a walking stick.

"I was surprised Andy didn't cause more damage from what I could see of what he was doing. It's not your fault, it's mine. I should have been able to find him in those two years," Shawn said sadly. One of his biggest failures and he knew he could have saved his daughter and Yehudit the suffering if he could have put Andy down.

"I'm a healer, it's my job. I've successfully healed more severe injuries than Yehudit's broken ankle." Difyr said. "Sileas stopped Andy before he could have hurt her any worse, and from what I heard you weren't far behind her."

"Maybe in distance, but two years too late in time," Shawn admitted.

"He's dead now. Too bad there are still other bad men out there." Difyr said and began bringing bowls of food to her patients.

"No doubt Wulfsen has men out looking for them as we speak. They'll be apprehended." He followed her with the bowls he was balancing.

"I'm afraid it may be a while before Wulfsen and his men can apprehend all of them." Difyr began setting down the bowls next to patients, helping them to sit up to eat.

"More than likely. One was probably sent as a messenger to the king for more men. He sighed. Just another disaster he could bear the blame for. He should have just killed Jack when he had the chance.

Difyr brought some oatmeal and broth to Pinja and Millie. "How is it going?" Difyr asked, and frowned when she noticed the nearly half-empty wine bottle.

Millie glanced up. "She asked for some wine. I only allowed her one drink though, until I could find out if she was definitely allowed to have it. She had another nightmare."

Difyr sighed and wished she had something for Pinja's pain, though she knew Pinja drank for more than just her physical pain. She sat down.

"You shouldn't drink on an empty stomach. Some knights are going to Portside for supplies, I should have what's needed before long." Difyr said, checking the bite on Pinja's neck, the bite was looking better. "Millie, the oatmeal's for you."

"Thank you," Millie said, reaching for the bowl. She ate it as delicately as she could. "That's good to know that they are going for supplies."

Pinja pulled the blanket around herself, she wished she had gotten drunk.

"What is I'm pregnant?" Pinja whispered.

Difyr had just been worrying about that very thing but tried not to let it show.

"There's a good chance you're not. Jack failed before and he had a whole month, they only had little more than a day." Difyr said reassuringly. "The knights are going to be picking up some herbs that... might keep anything from happening if you are." Difyr shoulder's slumped. "I'm glad they're going to get supplies now, but I really wish I had my supplies already."

Pinja shook her head slightly. "The midwife was there, she asked me questions and was happy with my answers."

Millie's eyes widened over her bowl. "I should give the two of you some privacy." She was quite certain Pinja wouldn't want her witnessing this personal conversation.

Millie and Difyr were her only friends. Pinja shrugged, and wish she hadn't because of course that hurt. "If you want to."

"You tell me, Pinja. If you want me here, I will stay. Whatever you want."