"I was and he stole my coin." Yehudit muttered and hobbled around to corral the brats.

Junior nodded and made her way over to the boy spending the coin he stole. With one hand she scooped up the money on the counter and with another she lifted the boy by the scruff of his shirt and held him at arms length.

Wulfsen gulped. He had not anticipated building such a challenging family. He scooped up the innocent-looking boy.

"Let's get to the wagon." Sileas was, to be truthful, a little stunned by the prospect of taking three little boys home with her. She was certain there would be no problem, Papa would surely love to have some sons. Sileas started walking toward the wagon.

Juniper followed suit, sitting in the back to watch the children for the voyage. She propped an arm up and stretched while she took a look at her wound.

Yehudit hobbled to the wagon and clumsily climbed in.

Sileas found herself seated in front of Wulfsen on his horse. Sileas felt like it had been too long since she had been able to ride.

Yehudit looked at Sileas riding with Wulfsen and was undeniably sulking about being left out.

Wulfsen may have held Sileas closer to himself than was absolutely necessary. He liked the smell of her hair, even after weeks at sea she smelled good. He hardly noticed where the horse was going as they rode out of the city.

Sileas smiled contentedly, no, happily. She paid little attention to the direction they were heading in.

"Sileas!" Yehudit yelled. "Are you saving anything for your wedding night?"

Sileas closed her eyes and counted to ten.

Wulfsen nearly fell off the horse he moved away from Sileas so fast. His face burned.

Sileas hadn't realized she had been leaning against Wulfsen. She started sliding off one side.

Wulfsen realized that Sileas was falling so he hastily grabbed her.

"Oh!" Sileas cried out when she realized what was happening. "Thank you," she said to Wulfsen.

Wulfsen pulled her back on the horse, but he was still blushing profusely.

"Don't let Yehudit bother you, we're not doing anything inappropriate."

"Not yet." Wulfsen did not know what he might have done if left uninterrupted. Actually he did. Just the thought had his face glowing red.

Sileas ducked her head to hide her own blush.

"Don't 'urt the horse." Questa said drily.

Sileas glared at her over her shoulder.

Questa held up her hands innocently. "Wot, then? I'm just protectin' yor 'onor."

Sileas rolled her eyes.

The rocking of the wagon was quite comforting for her, causing her eyes to become heavy and she tilted her head back as she shut them.

>To Beyond the Keep - Portside Road