Yehudit bristled. "I was helping Sileas!"

"Just because Sileas doesn't care enough about herself to not put herself in danger does not mean you get to follow suit," Aron said, seething. "This recklessness stops now."

A part of Liadan wanted to hold Yehudit and keep her safe, but she saw how angry her daughter was and knew she may as well hug a rabid dog.

Liadan kissed Aron's cheek. "Keep a good hold on her." She whispered in Aron's ear, then went back to the others. She looked at Mazi and wished he would wake up so she could hurt him again.

In reply to Aron Buckley (msg # 740):

"Sileas!" Yehudit called, feeling even angrier because being carried by her father was humiliating. If only her bad ankle was stronger.

Sileas had finally caught up in time to realize Yehudit wasn't in danger but was looking for her. "I'm fine. Go with your father." Sileas had heard plenty to know that her uncle believed her to be reckless where she had always thought of herself as protective of her loved ones.

Liadan gave Sileas a look. If Sileas had noticed Liadan's facial expressions towards her own children, Sileas would know a strong talking to was coming her way.

In reply to Sileas (msg # 743):

Yehudit's eyes brightened with tears. "Sileas?"

Sileas did notice the look, she had received it from her own parents from time to time. She sighed. It wasn't fair. Yehudit never listened to her, if she'd have gone for help when asked, Sileas and Questa would have had help sooner. But she couldn't worry about this now. She needed answers from Mazi. And she needed them now, if not sooner.

"I'm fine, Yehudit. Not a mark on me, not even a bruise," she assured her cousin.

Yehudit hiccuped unhappily. She did not like how things were going.

Daughter in his arms, Aron headed toward the keep.

In reply to Sileas (msg # 746):

Wulfsen offered Sileas his arm.

Sileas lowered her head, knowing she was in trouble with her aunt and would probably be forbidden from being with Yehudit. She accepted Wulfsen's arm and walked quietly with him.

Wulfsen did not entirely understand what just happened, or the family dynamics. But he could tell Sileas was upset. He gently patted her hand.

Sileas glanced at him quickly and then lowered her head once more. She curled her fingers into his arm.

Wulfsen wanted to kiss her, but knew it would be a bad time. He settled for feeling her hand on his arm.

Everything' a mess. Galina was right. I don't deserve happiness. "I hope Millie's all right," she finally said.

"I'm sure she will be fine." Wulfsen said. "You and the others acted quickly and saved her."

"That's all I wanted to do, was to get Millie safely out of there. And get information out of him." Sileas sighed. "But I'm pretty sure I'm going to catch an earful."

"That crazy bint is mad." QUesta agreed.

Sileas sighed again.

Wulfsen gently squeezed Sileas's hand.

"Everything will be all right." He assured her as they approached the gates.

"We'll see," Sileas said simply. She had a fairly good idea of how the talk would go.

"Look, you helped to capture a terrible man." Wulfsen said, ushering Sileas into the keep. "We are that much closer to finding your uncle."

"And Millie wasn't carried off, and Lek wasn't injured trying to protect her. But I know Aunt Lia, she's going to blame me for Yehudit being in harm's way. I told her over and over to go find you but she refused. I don't know what else I could have done."

"You did the best for everyone involved." Wulfsen said consolingly, still not understanding.