A hazy sense of pain drifted back to him and Tallis opened his eyes. The pain was a distant thing, like it was coming to him from a long ways away. He was laying on a bed grown from soft green leaves and the spicy scent of Fae medicines surrounded him. Pushing himself up on one elbow, he took a look around the room, unsurprised to find himself in a Fae tree cottage. This one was slightly different than any one he’d stayed in before. The walls were made from interlaced pine boughs and the space was lit with strings of glowing pine cones that filled the room with a soft golden light. Edward sat next to him on a low chair. He was hunched over a tree stump table and frowning down at a thick, leatherbound book.

“What are you reading?” Tallis asked.

Ed closed the book and smiled. “Of course that’s the first thing you would ask. No ‘how did I get here’s’ or ‘where am I’s’ you just have to know about the book.”

“Well, is it a good book or not? Maybe I’ll read it when you’re done.”

“It’s a bit of a bore.” Ed reached into his pocket and pulled out a wrinkled, brown ball. It was the only piece of Phaethon they’d taken from San Tempes. “I’m trying to figure out what this is.”

Tallis hauled himself out of bed and leaned over Ed’s shoulder. “Can I help?”

“Most likely.” Ed slid the book away. “But not now. Everyone is waiting on you.”

Tallis cocked an eyebrow at his father and shuffled out of the hut. The sun beat down on a glittering field of snow covered sentinel pines. Stone basins sat between the pines holding gallons of liquid, purple flame. Despite the frosty conditions, it was as warm as a summer’s day. A long feast table sat in the center of the ring of trees, piled high with every kind of food he could imagine. Norman flitted around the table, pouring drinks and fussing over the place settings. Aragam was right behind him, changing the position of each piece of silverware Norm set down.

Tallis stepped in before the two could come to blows. “What’s all this for?”

Norman dropped the fork he’d been holding and wrapped Tallis in a hug. “I didn’t think you were going to wake up.”

The far away pain coursing through him took a step closer, growing more insistent.

Aragam gently pulled the two of them apart. “Easy big man, easy. We just got him stitched back together, yeah? Hug him too hard and he’ll bust.”

“Where are we exactly?” asked Tallis.

“Small town in the winter court,” said Norman. “Nowhere special.”

“Nonsense,” said Aragam. “We’re all here. That makes it special, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, I suppose it does.”

Callan and Valerie crunched through the snow and stepped into the ring of fire pits. Callan had an over-under shotgun in one hand and a wild turkey tucked under his arm. Valerie trailed a few steps behind him, still looking a little pale but doing much better than the last time Tallis had seen her.

“How’s miss stubborn?” asked Aragam.

Callan laughed and looked over his shoulder. “She’s doing her best to pretend she’s not already exhausted and sore.”

“I am not tired,” Valerie grumbled. She wagged a finger at Aragam. “And that’s boss stubborn to you.”

Aragam pulled out a chair. “Here, boss, sit down before you fall down.”

“Any word on Setia yet?” Valerie asked.

“She’s still coming around,” said Aragam. “Should be up soon.”

“She’s here.” said Setia from somewhere behind them. “Still kicking.” She found a seat and sat down. Her right arm was wrapped in thick bandages.

“I’m sorry about your hand,” said Tallis.

She looked down at the stump and let out a long sigh. “Me too.” They were quiet for a long time.

Callan returned to the group minus the turkey and joined them at the table.

“So, how did we get here?” asked Tallis.

“Carried you all here on my back,” said Callan.

“You,” said Tallis. “Are full of shit. You couldn’t even stand the last I saw you.”

Callan shrugged. “There’s not much that can stop a winter Fae at the height of the season. I bounced back real fast.”

Atagam sat down next to the Fae warrior and gave him a playful swat on the shoulder. “Don’t lie, now.”

“Fine.” Callan rolled his eyes. “The Borderland Fae came through for us and pulled us all out of the fire. They even brought your parents with them. Way I hear it when the expedition left you dads wouldn’t take no for an answer. They showed up armed to the teeth and ready for war. I see where you get your fighting spirit from now. The Border Fae have been good to us, they lent us this space until we’re better. They’re even cooking for us tonight.”

Tallis leaned back in his chair and popped a cube of cheese into his mouth. “That’s nice of them. We’ll need to think of something to offer them in return.”

“I’m sure we can think of something, eh?” said Aragam.

“Sure we can.” Tallis agreed.

The food was brought out from surrounding huts and the Borderland Fae treated them to some of the finest courses Tallis had ever eaten. Callan and Aragam were the life of the party and did everything they could to keep everyone laughing and to keep everyone from thinking about the war. Especially Setia. Every time her eyes fell to the stump of her right arm Callan was there with a joke or a story. Tallis’ parents seemed to enjoy the food, although Ed hardly looked up from his book. Norman gave him a gentle swat upside the head as the last course was served.

“Would you put that away?” asked Norman.

“Just one second,” said Edward. He tapped a page. “Right here. There it is.”

“There what is?” Tallis stood and circled the table.

“The answer.” Ed held up the last piece of Phaethon. “It’s a seed.”

Tallis took the seed gingerly and looked across the table to Norman. “Well, dad, what do you think? Want to grow a new horse together?”

Norm folded his arms over his chest. “Depends. Gonna be awful hard to do that while you’re running off to war.”

“I know there’s a long way to go fighting Cold Iron, but I think my leg of this race is done. Time to let someone else carry that burden for a while.”

Norman grumbled. “And where are we going to grow him? I don’t think we have much of a home left to go back to.”

Tallis laughed and looked over to his friends. “I think our home is right here. So, what do you think? We set up a new house here in the Faelands, maybe somewhere close to Tuath Den. It’ll be hard work but I know a good crew of people who can help.” He smiled down at the Faerunners. “They’re a bit rough around the edges but they do good work.”

Norman leaned over and took the seed from Tallis, turning it gently in his hands. “Okay. I think that’ll work.”

Tallis reached into his pocket and slid an old coin across the table. “Well, team, I found our next job.”

Callan picked up the coin. “Pay seems a little lousy, but sure. Let’s do it.”