Vai awoke with the sun and found Fiona snuggled up against him. He frowned but didn't move. Instead he lay trying hard not to think. His attempts at this were interrupted when he heard a sort of scraping noise and then a loud crack made him sit up startled. Fiona stirred but rolled over back to sleep. Vai got up and looked out the window to see Fenrin felling a small tree. He watched the man begin to hack at the branches, sorting them by size.

Eventually Fenirn dragged a few long logs into the house and Vai heard sawing and hammering. It was amazing it didn't wake Fiona. Finally, curiosity got the better of him and Vai opened the door.

His eyes widened. There were two half-constructed beds filling the room. Tools were strewn about, the floor covered in a soft layer of sawdust and Fenrin was filing a notch into a rail to fit onto the frame.

With a final shove, the notch slid in and Fenrin leaned back cracking his spine loudly. He spotted Vai. "Did I wake Fiona?"

"No, she's still asleep."

"Well if you're up, you might as well help. Either start sweeping or start breakfast."

Vai grabbed a broom and began cleaning, watching Fenrin work. By the end of the hour, the first bed frame was finished. Fenrin's face was drawn and his eyes bloodshot. He shoved the first bed and the pieces of the second into a corner as Vai straightened up the rest of the room.

Fiona's voice sounded out sleepy and panicked, "Vai? Vai?!"

Vai rushed to the door. "I'm here, Your Highness." Fiona ran up and hugged him, pressing a watery face into his shirt. Vai stroked her hair. "It's alright. Let's get you freshened up."

Closing the door, Vai selected a red dress for Fiona, securing the middle with an ornate brass belt. He was finishing her braids when Fenrin's grizzled face poked in. "I made eggs."

Fiona cautiously and politely ate her eggs, very different from the way she'd wolfed down last night's stew. Fenrin picked at his but didn't eat hardly anything. Vai cleared the plates.

"U-uncle Fenrin?"

"Yeah, kid?"

Fiona paled as Fenrin turned his gaze on her. She tensed and looked up and asked, "Could you teach me to use a sword?"

The words tumbled out and Fenrin scratched his neck, eyeing her. Vai was impressed she'd completed the daunting task so quickly.

"I don't know. I'll have to think about it." Fiona looked down at Fenrin's answer and the man stood up. "I've got to go meet with Jayln and Matius. Stay here. I know it's no palace, but nothing will harm you in this house. Although I'm afraid you're going to have to help out, no palace cooks or maids here."

Fenrin turned to Vai. "There's a garden out back that needs attending. I already feed the chickens, but the girl can gather some feathers for the bed. I'll be back soon, don't answer the door for anyone but me, Jayln, or Matius. Understand?"

The two nodded and Fenrin got up, swaying a bit. He stumbled out of the house and down the road.

“It's still early.” Fenrin stood considering at Jayln's door, hand hesitantly raised to knock. He blinked as the door opened and Matius nearly barreled into him.

"Ah, Fenrin! Sorry, baby's still a bit feverish so I'm off to fetch some more herbs. Jayln's up in the kitchen." He half-jogged off pointing into the house. "She's worried about you."

Fenrin rubbed his chin and stepped inside, making his familiar way into the kitchen where Jayln was taking a kettle off the fire. She turned and her eyebrows wrinkled. "Fenrin, you look like a wreck. Sit down."

He dropped into one of the carved wooden chairs and groaned. Jayln put a steaming cup of tea in his hand and he held it gingerly. She sat across from him watching him closely. "Did you sleep at all?"

"Didn't trust myself to sleep. Just kept busy."

"Doing what exactly?"

"Making the kid a proper bed. Nearly finished too. I came to ask if you've got some extra bedding."

Jayln gave him a look. "Drink your tea." He grimaced but raised the cup to his lips. "Of course we do, but that's not the point. Tell me exactly what you were afraid of. Get it out so it can't haunt you any longer."

Fenrin downed the cup of tea and Jayln took it. He rested his face in his hands, staring at the wooden floorboards.

"Seeing Lyra. It woke something up. Gods, I hate her. Every time she spoke it was everything I could do not to rip her throat out. I haven't felt that...savage for years. I could picture it so vividly. The entire fight, her knives cutting me, my teeth tearing at her. Over and over...it's still in the back of my mind like a light spot. Like a memory that never happened."

Jayln's hand pressed on his shoulder. "It's not real. That wasn't your sister and you don't have to fight her, you don't even have to see her again."

Fenrin looked up, his eyes empty. "But it was real. I did that to someone. Maybe not her, but some other person. I can't even look at my sister's face without smelling the blood. I was afraid if I fell asleep, I'd...go back. I couldn't risk it with a kid around."

The man began to shake and Jayln pushed him up. "Listen to me, Fenrin," she said her eyes locked on his.

"This," she tapped on his headband, "is a scar. Just a scar, not a sign or a brand. Not a trigger or a curse. Just a scar. A mark of past pain that you will not feel again. The fact that you're here in my kitchen and your sister is presumably riding across the country healthy as can be is proof enough. Focus on what's ahead."

He grimaced. "What's ahead? An inevitable battle against my sister's army?"

Jayln's gaze darkened. "You let me handle that." She sat up and smiled. "For now, focus on having a family again."

Fenrin blinked, his tired brain mulling over the word. "Family? You mean Lyra's girl?"

Jayln nudged him. "Yes, your niece. She's no doubt scared and lonely right now and I think she'd benefit from getting to know her uncle."

With a dark chuckle, Fenrin shook his head. "That's a bad idea."

"She doesn't need to know what you've been through, just who you are now. A man who protects people and who overcomes impossible odds to find happiness."

Fenrin gave a heavy sigh and leaned back, his messy mane reaching the bottom of his shoulder blades and brushing the table. He closed his eyes and the two sat in comfortable silence for a moment.

"What are you going to tell people about them?" Fenrin asked, eyes still closed.

"Hmm. Too many people know who you are and your connection with Lyra to tell the truth. Best say she's another rescue. Probably have to say she's a nobleman's daughter for it to pass though. I can't imagine a princess, even one who's the daughter of a bandit, could pass for a common child."

"Not to mention the personal slave."

"The what?"

Fenrin opened one bloodshot eye. "Oh, you didn't...Vai the Aryi. He's Lyra's personal slave. The one I told you about. But don't worry I've already spoken to him about that. I think if we just call him her loyal attendant and chaulk any oddities he lets slip down to his culture, it'll be fine."

Jayln frowned trying to remember the various stories Fenrin'd told her about his past. She gave a silent 'oh' and then nodded. "Good idea. Gods, no wonder he looked so scared."

He shrugged. "It'll be handy to have someone who knows how to take care of her, but make sure you realize his politeness is a front. He'll no doubt report everything we do and say to Lyra." Fenrin raised a hand. "Oh and best keep him away from Echa or things might get ugly."

Jayln nodded. "I'll speak with Fiona while you get some rest."

Ferin sat up. "No, I'd better—"

"Uh-uh. You are exhausted mentally and physically. As soon as Matius gets back, I'm putting him in charge of making sure you get some sleep."

Fenrin snorted. "I doubt Matius could make me do anything, even half dead. That's your job."

Jayln rolled her eyes. "He's just too polite to embarass you. Now get some rest." She kissed him on the cheek and finished making her breakfast. She'd just eaten it when Matius returned, cloth bag in hand.

"Hello again, Fenrin. Morning, love." He kissed his wife on the forehead. "Got the herbs. That tea? Perfect."

"I'm going to head down to talk to Fiona, make sure Fenrin gets some sleep. Maybe something to help it be dreamless?"

Matius shot Fenrin a sympathetic look and he growled back. Ignoring it, Matius mixed up a drink."Right-o. You know where the guest bed is and you best be in it when I come back down from the boys' room."

Jayln smiled at Fenrin's crotchety obedience and grabbed her cloak, heading out to meet the princess.