Roshaun often dreamed, the way this one began. The effect of a life being taught to fear wasn't easily undone, even in a place of safety, and it had only been a few months ( Read more... )

They returned to Dormouse's shop, after the night at the bar, and he showed them straight to the room he prepared.

It's a nice room, a good enough size, and the bed's comfortable.

Stephanie ( Read more... )

Roshaun doesn't know what it's like to have a completely undisturbed night's sleep. Either he'll wake at any tiny noise in the room... or, as tonight, his rest will be broken by bad dreams.

They made it home. Back to Wellakh, both of them alive and back where he belongs. Where they belong, now. But his life is not the idyll it may appear from ( Read more... )

It's late.

Late enough to be sleeping, especially when you're young and under stress.

The 'under stress' part would also explain why Roshaun and Dairine didn't even bother starting the night in separate beds, tonight. It's innocent, still, but sometimes you need someone there.

They walk upstairs, not letting go of each other's hands, to their room.

And it is theirs.

He slept unusually well, and exhaustion is only part of the explanation for it.

When he wakes, he finds that he and Dairine are no longer on opposite sides of the bed, as when they went to sleep. Her head is on his chest, at a slightly awkward angle, and he's curled protectively around her.

He blinks but doesn't move, unwilling to wake her.

His pup tent is ready, everything else has been prepared.

All that remains is to say goodbye to his parents, before he goes.

Kit shakes his head. "It didn't work", he breathes. "With all that power, how could it not work?"

"It did work", Tuyet says, hardly above a whisper. "It just wasn't enough." He sounds desperately tired. "Look", he says. "It's coming back."

Kit looks at Darryl. "Now what?"

And Roshaun knows. There is something he can do, more than any of ( Read more... )