Aedela stared at Murtagh for a long, long time.

"I don't know what's worse," she said at last. "The possibility that you're serious, or the possibility that you're not."

"Would I joke about this?" said Murtagh quietly. The sunlight shimmered on Aedela's skin, glittered on her hair, the wind teasing silver strands out of her bun. "Darling, I'm serious."

"I don't know how you can be," she snapped. "Are you saying my son, my son, is going to turn ballistic and rain fiery death over all of us –"

"I don't know!" Oh God, he was tired, he was so tired, he just wanted all this to end… "Look, Aedela…" He reached out to stroke her cheek, but she leaned away from the touch. "I don't…it's not like I want this to happen. I don't. I'm terrified of it. But we have to be prepared, and hopefully avoid it."

Aedela looked down at Aidan, who was fussing in his sheepskin nest by the side of the herb patch. The set of her jaw was like marble. "I can't believe this of you," she said in a low voice.

"Love –"

"How dare you!" She whipped her head up, eyes blazing. "How dare you accuse my son of this, how dare –"

"He's my son too!" shouted Murtagh.

A light breeze stirred the plants at their feet.

Well, he is, thought Murtagh.

"I just –" Aedela broke it by shaking her head and turning away, hand covering her eyes. "I don't know what to think."

"Then trust me," pleaded Murtagh softly, stepping over to her and putting his hands on her arms. "Please?" He bent is head in an effort to look her in the eyes. "If you love me…"

Aedela nodded and leaned forward, hiding her face in his chest. Sighing, Murtagh wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. The sunlight was warm, scented faintly with herbs…Aidan complained again and Murtagh reached out with his mind, instinctively shooshing, soothing. There, there, little one…it's all right…

"So what's happening?" Aedela said eventually, voice muffled. She was holding back tears.

Murtagh sighed, rubbing her shoulder comfortingly. "Thorn and I agreed that Lane and Kadi should leave as soon as possible…get away from the Eldunari…"

"Where?"

"Not sure yet."

"We could go back to Ellesmera."
"It's definitely an option…" Murtagh realized what pronoun she'd used. " 'We?' "

"Yes." Aedela flung her head back, eyes diamond. "I'm not leaving him, Murtagh. He's not going to be alone."

"He's got Kadi –"

"I don't care." Fierceness ran through every line of her like a line of steel. "Is that what you were planning to do? Just send him off on his own?"

Quite honestly, it hadn't. "No. No, Thorn and I would have gone with him."

"Well, you still can," said Aedela. "Why not? You, and me, and Thorn and Lane and Kadi, and we'll have to take Aidan too…why don't we all just go up to Ellesmera?" She reached up to brush a hand down his cheek – were there lines appearing? – and her face softened. "I think more than one of us could use a break."

It felt…uneasy to Murtagh, disconcerting in some vague manner that he couldn't put his finger on. Lane was volatile, unsteady, and Murtagh didn't want him anywhere near Aedela or Aidan at all. Suggesting that to Aedela, though, felt dangerous…

On the other hand, Ellesmera was big, and Du Weldenvarden even larger. Once they were there he was sure it wouldn't be hard to get Lane and Kadi away…And Arya, he could ask her advice, God they hadn't talked in ages…

I would go, said Thorn, though he didn't sound completely confident. Aedela is right. You need to get away.

You're not all for it either?

Thorn deliberated. It's hard to tell. I would like to feel sure about this, but for some reason I can't.

'Surety is a luxury afforded to those who are ignorant all that can go wrong,' quoted Murtagh. Yeah, I feel you, buddy.

He looked back at Aedela and saw she was watching him, waiting for his decision. Making his mind up, Murtagh kissed the tiny crease between her brows. "All right," he said. "A family vacation it is."