As the party died down, so did the clamor in the tavern, and Eamond helped everyone back to the orphanage, while bidding goodbye to Aile. The walk back through the cooling streets was a drowsy, contented procession.
Full bellies and the lingering warmth of shared triumph made the children yawn widely, clutching their sticky bags of sweets and small treasures. Syd, surprisingly subdued by his own heroic consumption of pie, walked with a distinct waddle. However, he still managed to tease Mira about her ribbon until she threatened to 'accidentally' trip him.
Garret was babbling away with Jake while he absently touched his new knife sheath, and Lysandra and Farrah quietly steered the little ones. Mira walked beside Eamond for a stretch, her earlier self-consciousness replaced by a quiet satisfaction, the blue ribbon stark against her dark hair in the moonlight.
Vale, as always, was a silent shadow merging with the deeper ones cast by the buildings.
