It was not yet dawn when Ildri awoke. Keziah was sleeping where she had been when Ildri had fallen asleep. Ildri could hear breathing in the tent with her clearly. She leaned up, trying not to disturb the parrot. There was a body on Anya's cot, breathing deeply and evenly. Ildri was glad at least she was safe. Probably Jim was fine too, then, because if he was not, would Anya be so peaceful?

Lady Theresa's cot was also empty, but Ildri did not have the heart to find out the truth. She would know when she woke up again. She listened to Anya's breathing until sleep reclaimed her.

When Ildri next opened her eyes, the tent was empty. Ildri realized that she was still in the stolen ball gown from the night before. She had no doubt it looked awful as such dresses were not to be slept in, then she realized what a ridiculous thing it was to worry about. She sat up, and Keziah opened her eyes in a very unimpressed manner. When she realized that Ildri was getting up, she flew to her customary shoulder with a squauk and then closed her eyes again as if she would go back to sleep.

The morning was still early and camp was still quite quiet. Ildri searched for someone who might have news.

The soldier Erich was the first person she saw. "Did everyone come back last night?" she asked.

He shook his head and listed a couple of soldiers and Charles' father, who had been beaten to death before they arrived by overzealous guards. Ildri sighed, wishing it had not happened. Charles was probably very upset. She felt bad for his family.

"But the news is not all bad! The emperor is dead—well, I guess you knew that, though—and the royal family was freed last night!"

"That is wonderful news," Ildri agreed. She wondered if it would make any difference. Did it mean that the war was not lost after all? Or did it simply mean that it would be dragged out longer and more people would die? She wondered if what they had done the previous night had changed anything.

If Ildri thought about it, her magic had been used to kill people, and she was not certain how she felt about that. She tried not to imagine what it was Ty had not allowed her to see the night before. She figured that she should go back to bed but felt as if she would not sleep.

So instead she made her way over to the makeshift kitchen and started slicing the old slightly wrinkled potatoes, not because she was particularly hungry but for the comfort of a familiar task. She still felt exhausted but at least less disconnected than she had the night before.

She sliced some carrots and ham and cooked them together, drawing out the flavours as she did so. It could be breakfast for anyone up early, she decided. It smelled very good considering the unsatisfactory vegetables she had been forced to use.

It seemed that she was not the only one who thought so. A couple of soldiers turned up and she dished them out some. She dished out a bowl of her own and sat on the ground against the table and ate, feeding bits to Keziah in between bites.

"There you are," said a voice, and Ildri looked up to see Lord Wildwood, alive and at least somewhat well. His face looked bruised and he appeared to be limping. "That smells good, Ildri. May I have some?"

Considering that it was technically his food, Ildri nodded and stood up to dish some out for him. "No, I'll get it myself, Ildri. Being a viscount doesn't make me completely useless."

"But I never thought—" Ildri protested.

"It weighs heavily on me, today." He sat down a few feet from Ildri and began to chew gingerly. "How are you, Ildri?"

"I'm fine," she said. "Well, I guess I'm just shaken up by everything."

"I heard what happened. It's a strange feeling, having your magic withdrawn by someone, isn't it?" he asked.

"It is," she agreed. "Is that why you trusted Anya when no one else would? I mean, I felt some of what Ty was feeling," she said.

Lord Wildwood chuckled a bit. "Ironic, isn't it? But it's hard to remain angry at someone when you know their motives and how conflicted they are. Are you angry with Ty?"

"No, of course not," Ildri said.

Lord Wildwood leaned forward. "This is really quite good. Unfortunately my broken face is keeping me from properly enjoying it, I'm afraid. Makes one wish had had kept the healer here, I think." He shrugged and then winced.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"Not compared to the pains I could have suffered, I think. As Wildwood is the most magically fortified fortress, we will be journeying with the queen and prince there today."

Ildri glanced at him. "Is the king alive?"

"Yes, but he has other work to do. Now, I think I shall take some of this excellent breakfast to my wife. She'll be in a rather bad mood this morning and perhaps breakfast might be a peace offering. I shall let you know if it works."

Ildri grinned.

"Don't take it personally if it does not," he added and smiled before wincing in pain. "And if I might say so, Ildri, you've grown into an amazing person. My father and your parents would be proud of you. And I just want you to know that you will always be a part of Wildwood, even if you should choose to reside somewhere else with someone else. Wildwood is your home and your family."

Ildri felt as if she might cry. "Thank you, Lord Wildwood!"

"Thank you for the food, Ildri." Lord Wildwood stood up and walked away with his slight limp.

* * * * *

Wildwood's bedraggled army set out on the road that very morning away from the capital. Men from other companies were added to their number for additional protection for the queen and the prince. Ildri heard that the other estate armies were securing the capital. She wondered if they had found Saul yet, and found that she really did not care. She did not think she would ever feel safe enough to not carry potions, so if he did come she would just paralyse him or tie vine him or set him on fire if need be. She would ask Lord Wildwood if they found him later, she decided. Hopefully they would lock him up forever.

Perhaps because they were travelling with a large armed force there were no difficulties on the journey. They made slow time, though and Ildri just wanted to get home. She was relieved to see Allan looking mostly uninjured. Maxine would be relieved.

Finally they reached the walls of Wildwood and Ildri felt a strange feeling of dread. Anya was sitting beside her and looked uneasy, too. "I think there was an attack," she said. "Oh, Damani and Kallie, you better be alive. What will I do if they were not?" she asked and looked at Ildri and Jim with fearful eyes.

What was she supposed to say? Luckily Jim spoke first. "Let's just see before we worry, right? The castle was left well defended."

Slightly less well defended since two witches and a wizard decided they were going to leave. Ildri hoped that everyone was alright, too. The feeling of spent magic hung in the silent air.

And then there was a shout from the guard tower and Ildri pointed. "See? The guards are still there. Everything is fine."

The army entered the walls, and servants scuttled around. Ildri saw a few people crying, but there were mostly happy faces. Chef ran up to her and hugged her and then scurried off to grab her husband. Sir Thomas moved around, apparently looking for injuries. Lady Theresa held her child and Lady Daphne was crying loudly again against her shoulder.

"Pretty mess," Keziah commented.

"True enough, Keziah," Anya agreed.

Suddenly from out of nowhere the twins followed by Matt came hurtling across the lawn towards Anya.

Damani yelled as he ran, "Anya! Anya! Look! I got shot, look! I even got a scar!"

Ildri barely moved out of the way in time not to get run over by Kallie as she hugged her sister and Damani as he displayed a scar on his shoulder. Matt waited just behind the other two. "Hello, Ildri," he said.

"Hello, Matt," she responded, wondering at the change in him.

"I was actually afraid it wouldn't scar, but luckily it took Sir Thomas a while before he managed to heal me so it was too late to prevent scarring!" Damani explained happily.

Anya looked concerned. "Didn't it hurt? How did you get injured? What happened here?"

Kallie stepped back from her sister. "There was an attack in the night three days ago."

Jim frowned. "Apparently Scelus can't be trusted to live up to their word. They were supposed to leave the properties loyal to the men in peace."

"Well, they didn't and I taught them a thing or two, let me tell you," Damani said loudly. He looked at his sister. "I've decided I'm not going to be a wizard anymore. I'm going to be a supreme mage!" He grinned at his own brilliance. "A wizard obviously can cast spells and throw potions at the same time!"

Anya sighed. "Aren't you being a bit bloodthirsty, Damani? But tell us what else happened, please."

Kallie continued a bit primly, "There was an attack, and it was quite frightening. Somebody," she emphasized while shooting a look at her brother as to leave no room to doubt who somebody was, "felt that he needed to help defend the castle. So I couldn't just let him get himself killed."

"And I couldn't just let Kallie get killed," Matt pointed out.

Anya glowered at all three of them. "So let me get this straight. There was an attack so you thought that you would go out where it was not safe and help? You two... No, you three could have been killed!"

"They never even got over the walls!" Damani protested.

"And Matt really did help, Anya!" Kallie said emphatically. Then she added begrudgingly, "Damani, too! He really has been learning to use magic!"

"Exactly!" Damani emphasized. "And even Kallie wasn't useless for a girl!"

"Thanks, I think. Means a lot coming from someone who isn't that stupid for a boy," Kallie muttered with a dark look.

Matt added helpfully, "And we went and g-gathered the potions forgotten in Ildri's workroom so we were all well armed!"

"Besides, how is helping defend a castle a bit any worse than flying off to help an army?" Damani challenged.

Anya looked like she was about to lose her temper, an unusual sight indeed. Ildri felt like stepping back. Jim stepped forward. "Anya, I'm fairly certain that they're already being punished for disobedience already."

Kallie nodded with wide, sombre eyes. "We are most definitely being punished."

"They're going overboard with the punishment," Damani muttered.

"And d-discouraging us from ever t-trying anything again," Matt added.

Jim shot a knowing look at Anya. "See?"

Her expression was sceptical. "It's clearly working. You can tell by their obviously shame at their actions," she said dryly.

"Let's just be glad that they're alive," Ildri suggested.

"Hey! Did you see my scar!?" Damani asked loudly.