A few days later, it was announced that the army which had left to retake Adriested would return. Thus, the streets which had been decorated for the festival, and very recently cleaned, were all re-decorated. Stalls were hastily rebuilt and the improvised bands of musicians and entertainers began to make their frenzied preparations. Up at Yulie’s temple, the sisters all began busying themselves with cleaning, and fervent prayers as thanks for the many lives that had been saved.

It took another two days, before the arrival was scheduled.

Finally, the day arrived. Mariel, her friends, and Daristan, now strangely close to Saryssa had all joined up together to watch as the army marched through the gates. While some quiet concerns were visible and Siravin made no real attempts at getting to know anybody else, the mood was light.

“So, I take it that you know someone in particular in this army?” Daristan tried to keep his expression neutral, but the clingy shape of Saryssa squeezing very tightly his previously flayed arm, caused him no small amount of pain.

“Yes, one of my friends…” Mariel nodded.

“Oh dear, you seem to just have friends everywhere! I find myself very impressed by you!” Saryssa put on her doting parent tone of voice, while making no sign of letting go of Daristan.

“It’ll be nice to see him again…” Saya mumbled in between relating to Casindire what was going on below them.

A great fanfare signalled the arrival of the vanguard force. The gates were opened, and the first companies came marching through in perfectly synced step and order. Many of the soldiers were visibly wounded, but marched with pride and determination. The onlooking crowd began to cheer and throw confetti into the air, the ground soon blanketed in every colour of the palette. Next came the bulk of the army. A rather worn and battered, but equally proud group. Mixed in were officers and several other dignitaries and scribes. The anticipation rose, and to loud shrieks of joy and a thunderous applause, the commanders appeared through the gates, riding upon groomed horses.

Mariel kept her eyes peeled, looking for Tizare, whom should be among the group. Finally, she spotted him, riding quietly among the leading commanders. She shouted to him, and after some repetitions and incessant waving from the others inclined to do so, he noticed their presence and waved back.

The group, excluding Siravin, who remained with Daristan and Saryssa, followed the procession behind the continuous line of people. The cheers and confetti were un-ending, and after a few minutes, were covered in paper flakes. Once the soldiers were past the military gate, they dismounted, made some speeches and gave the necessary orders. The soldiers, with a salute, went about doing as they were ordered to. Some took their gear and headed for the wash bins, while others chatted loudly about having something to drink.

They caught up with Tizare while he was removing the saddle and squaring his gear away. The first to approach was Saya, who walked up to him, and as he began to greet her, landed a rough flat hand against his cheek.

“Ouch! Okay… I guess I deserved that one huh?”

“You bet you do you! Leaving me behind here!? What happened to the whole living and dying together!?”

“Well it still counts?”

“Only because you survived numbskull!”

Saya clenched her fists and knocked on his chest once, trying to control herself from giving him another earful. He instead offered her a hug, which she passively accepted.

“It had to be done, and I can’t deny that what I did was wrong.”

Saya shook her head in silence.

“Oh… Mariel, Casindire too huh? It’s been a while… If you too want to hit me, you might have to wait in line for a bit.”

“No, I’m just happy that you’re back.”

“Me too!” Casindire smiled from ear to ear. “Are you hungry? Do you need anything from us? We’d be glad to help you!”

“Well… A welcome-back kiss?” He grinned, and raised his hand, parrying another incoming slap from Saya. “It’s a joke… Don’t worry about it…”

After squaring away his gear, Tizare related to them the main points of the siege. Too all outsiders, it went well, with only some slight holdups in terms of the schedule, made after initial contact had been made with the defenders. Atrocities had been committed inside the walls and outside, and he related bitterly how prisoners had been murdered after surrender. Most of the perpetrators had lost family or loved ones, and were in all due likelihood to escape serious accusations.

“So, do they respect you now?”

“No idea Mariel. They know that my input allowed them to seize back the city quicker, but they’re not going to admit that. Ah, they won’t throw us in a cell though.”

“Ah, there you are I was about to… Start shouting?” Daristan approached them with Saryssa in tow. A slight pause in his sentence was followed by a slight darkening of his mood. Though subtle, Mariel noticed that Tizare shook his head once.

“So, now everyone’s back, together right? So, what’s the plan?” Daristan shrugged.

“I want to leave as soon as possible! But first I have an obligation to a friend to finish…” Mariel sighed. “You should come cheer me on.”

Tizare sighed. “Mariel, what sort of mess have you gotten yourself involved in this time?”