The next day was a quiet affair. I was up early and spent some time preparing my gear for the ride home, unsure of how I would get there.
Wayland greeted me as I went out into the morning sun to get my bearings. “So. Off to report back to your king?”
“Not yet. He's waited seven years; he can afford to wait a little longer. I'm off to visit Baldric. Family first, after all.”
“A wise choice. I believe that I saw Cassia and Estelle up and about, so why not set that down for a moment and eat something before you leave.” With that, he turned and went inside. I made some finishing touches to my pack, then set it down by the door and followed.
Cassia and Estelle were already eating when we walked into the main hall. It seemed that there were still some meats and other foodstuffs from the night before, so they'd got some together and were eating happily.
I began to prepare my own dish and get settled at the other end of the table when Estelle said“Sir Derek, I've already made you a plate, if you'd like it.”
I stopped, turned and smiled. “Of course, Estelle. Thank you,” I said as I got up to join the pair of them.
Our meal was a silent one after that, but Estelle didn't avert her gaze from me if I happened to look her way this time. I took that as a positive sign and my heart was filled with a bit of cheer.
Once we finished our meal, I turned to Cassia and Estelle. “I've prepared the supplies for the journey onwards, so when you both are ready we can be off.”
“We're ready now,” said Estelle in a quiet tone. “We began to ready ourselves when the sun came up, just like you did. We'd already woken up and heard you moving around so we decided to seize the day.”
“Well then if you're ready to mount up, let us be off,” I said as we got up to leave the hall. When we reached the split between the main door where I'd left my supplies and the hall towards our various rooms, where their supplies where, Estelle turned to me again.
“Will we be using the Waygate?” She asked with a considerable amount of hesitation and fear.
I shook my head. “No. Despite appearances, I'm still trying to figure out what it can do. In any case, it wouldn't do us any good to surprise my brother with an unexpected visit. At least, a more unexpected visit that the one I'm planning.”
“Oh, OK,” she said, relief dripping from her voice. The events of the previous day were clearly still bright in her mind. She bounced off towards Cassia and hers' rooms while I went back outside to double check the supplies one last time.
Wayland came out a little later looking pensive. “You could let her stay here for the time being, if you so desire. She would be safe.”
I looked up in surprise. “Who, Estelle?” He nodded once. “Why? Why let her stay? I thought you weren't fond of outsiders, and you've only just met her,” but even before he answered I pieced it together.
“Estelle is dear to all of us, so I cannot in good conscience let her leave without offering her a place of safety to remain at if she so desires.”
I started to object as she was my daughter to worry about, not his, but thought better of it. She barely knew me and was only just starting to trust me at all. If she wanted to stay here, it should be her choice. It wouldn't affect the terms of the treaty at all, in any case, as Master Wayland was now just as much a part of it as King William or the Lady were. Besides, here Cassia could speak her mind without need of a translator or some such thing. With me she'd be as good as mute.
Of course that was the moment that Estelle and Cassia walked out with their things. I turned to them with a smile. “Estelle, Master Wayland has offered to let you and Cassia stay here a while longer, if you like.”
