After the garden incident, Sir Aelric took it upon himself to guide them through the busy streets of the kingdom. His presence parted the crowds with ease, villagers bowed their heads slightly as he passed, not out of fear but respect.
Kael kept Mira close, watching as the children marveled at the colorful stalls and flower garlands hung across the roads. Masha carried Lori's hand, the girl glancing nervously at every unfamiliar face.
Finally, Aelric stopped before a modest stone house tucked near the edge of the kingdom's market district. It wasn't grand, but the wooden shutters were clean, the roof held firm, and a lantern swayed gently by the door.
"This will do," Aelric said, unlocking the door with a key he had been entrusted with. "The crown keeps a number of spare lodgings for travelers and honored guests. You may rest here for as long as you need."
Masha's eyes widened slightly. "You… arranged this for us?"
Aelric gave a short nod. "Children should sleep under a safe roof, not in the streets or fields. That much I can provide."
Inside, the small house was warm and welcoming: a long oak table, a simple kitchen corner, two small bedrooms with straw beds layered in blankets. Mira immediately ran to test one of the mattresses, bouncing once before laughing. Lori followed more carefully, but soon smiled when Masha joined her.
Kael leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching Aelric. The knight hadn't asked for thanks, hadn't even looked proud. He had simply… done his duty.
"Not bad for a cold knight," Kael muttered under his breath with the faintest smirk.
"I heard that," Aelric replied dryly, but his lips twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile.
ON NIGHT.
The small house was quiet except for the crackle of the fire in the hearth. Shadows danced along the walls as Kael leaned back in a chair, a grin forming.
"Alright," he said, his voice low and dramatic, "you want scary stories? I've got a good one."
Mira's eyes lit up. "Yes! Tell the one with the haunted forest!"
Lori hesitated, hugging her knees. "I… I don't like scary things…"
Masha chuckled softly, adjusting Lori's blanket around her shoulders. "It's okay, Lori. You don't have to be brave if you're not ready."
Kael ignored her teasing and began. "Many years ago, there was a traveler who wandered into a forest at night. The trees… they whispered. The wind… it wasn't wind. And something, or someone, followed him, just beyond his sight…"
Mira leaned forward, hanging on every word. Lori's wide eyes flicked to the dark corners of the room, her small hands gripping her knees tightly. Masha leaned back, smiling, watching the girls react.
"And every time he thought he was safe, the shadows grew longer, reaching for him… until…" Kael paused, letting the tension build. "He heard a voice, calling his name… but when he turned, no one was there. Only the trees, smiling."
Mira gasped, thrilled. Lori shivered, hiding her face behind her arms.
"You see?" Kael said with a sly grin. "Not all stories have happy endings. Sometimes… you just have to run."
Mira laughed and bounced. "Tell another one!"
Lori whimpered quietly. "Maybe… maybe a not-so-scary one next?"
Masha laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair from Lori's face. "Don't worry, Lori. Kael's stories are scary, but they never hurt anyone."
Kael leaned back, crossing his arms. "Alright, alright… a lighter story. But only if you promise not to peek under your bed tonight."
Mira squealed with delight. Lori peeked nervously anyway. Masha just shook her head, still smiling, enjoying the warm, safe chaos of the night.
The fire flickered low, and one by one, they all settled, hearts still racing, ready for sleep, but with a little more warmth from each other than they had felt in a long time.
The morning sunlight filtered through the small windows of the house, casting warm, golden light on the wooden floor. Mira and Lori tiptoed around the kitchen, determined to make breakfast for Kael and Masha.
"Okay, so eggs first?" Mira whispered, holding a carton with a grin.
"Uh… I think so," Lori replied, trying to balance a bowl in her small hands. "We have to make it perfect!"
Mira cracked the first egg… and it splattered all over the counter. Lori yelped, accidentally knocking the bowl over, sending flour puffing into the air like a tiny cloud.
"Oh no!" Mira laughed, slipping slightly on the spilled flour. Lori scrambled to help, but ended up flinging a spoonful of batter onto the wall.
By the time they finally managed to cook something resembling eggs and toast, the kitchen looked like a battlefield.
Kael poked his head in, raising an eyebrow. "Uh… what happened in here?"
Mira giggled nervously, holding up a slightly burnt piece of toast. "Breakfast… surprise?"
Lori peeked out from behind her, flour in her hair and a smudge on her cheek. "We wanted to say thank you…"
Masha entered, stifling a laugh. "Well, it's definitely… memorable. Thank you, girls. I'll never forget this breakfast."
Kael shook his head, smiling despite the mess. "Memorable is one way to put it. Don't worry, we'll eat it. Adventure fuel, right?"
Mira and Lori beamed, relieved that their disaster had turned into a shared laugh. The small house echoed with warmth and laughter, ready to start another day of their journey together.
The morning buzzed through the kingdom's cobbled streets as everyone split off to enjoy their day.
Masha strolled through the market, her basket swinging gently, stopping at colorful stalls to choose fruits, spices, and fabrics. The vendors greeted her warmly, charmed by her gentle demeanor.
Meanwhile, Mira's eyes sparkled with excitement as she ran toward the open training grounds. "Come on, boys! Let's see who's the fastest!" she shouted, challenging the kingdom's young fighters to races, climbing contests, and mock sword duels. The boys, initially skeptical, soon laughed and cheered, impressed by her daring spirit.
Lori wandered into the quiet, dusty bookshop tucked between two tall buildings. She ran her fingers along the spines, marveling at titles she had never seen before. "This one… and this one… maybe a little of everything," she murmured, delight clear in her eyes as she piled a small stack of books in her arms.
Kael, on the outskirts of the kingdom, joined a hunting party in the forest. The thrill of tracking game, reading the signs of the wilderness, and moving quietly through the trees brought him back to simpler days of his childhood. Each arrow he released and each animal he spotted reminded him of why he loved the quiet focus of hunting.
As the sun climbed higher, each of them was wrapped in their own little world—Masha bartering and laughing, Mira testing her courage and speed, Lori lost in the joy of discovery, and Kael feeling the familiar pulse of nature around him. Yet, somehow, even in separate paths, their day felt connected, like threads of the same tapestry being woven in different colors.