A/N: I know, I know. It's a short chapter. Check out my profile for a new summary on Hope written by PhilomenaAngel!

TheRanger'sDaughter: Gilan was always my favorite. I wish we got to see him more in the books.

Philomena: No 9th one. I've got to be done this time.

TEM: The enthusiasm continues.

Disclaimer: Not John Flanagan.

Hazen pulled the blankets up over Mara and sat on her bed.

"I'm going to miss you," she whispered.

Hazen chuckled and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "I'll miss you too, squirt."

"Will you write me?"

"Of course I'll write you. It'll be just like when I went to the Academy."

"Will you bring me a present?"

He chuckled again. "Yes, I'll bring you a present."

Their father cleared his throat from the doorway. "Come on, you two. It's not like he's going off to war."

"Thank Grace," Hazen added. He gave Mara a final tuck, though she was certainly too old for them, and walked out. They went to the study where his mother was still up. She'd already dressed for bed, her dark hair hanging in a loose braid over her shoulder. She looked up from her reports when they came in and smiled.

"Have you said your good byes to Mara already?"

Hazen nodded. Scout stood with her arms open. Hazen went into them. His emotions were getting harder to control.

"We know you'll be great," Mason assured him, slapping his son's back.

"I'm honored you're trusting me with this. It's just…are you sure I'm ready?"

"If you weren't we wouldn't be trusting you with it," Scout reminded him. Hazen sighed and forced a smile. His parents may have set high expectations for him is entire life, but they weren't unrealistic. They gave him everything he needed to be successful, mostly in the form of mentors and opportunities rather than gold as so many affluent parents arranged.

"I'll make you proud" he promised.

"We know you will," Mason said.

Scout enclosed him in a tighter hug. "We love you."

Hazen chuckled. "I know you do."

"Off with you now, before your mother loses her nerve to let you," Mason chided gently. "Be safe, son."

With that, Hazen collected his pack, kissed his mother's cheek, shook his father's hand, and set off for the stables where his horse was waiting.

"He'll be fine," Scout whispered once he rounded a corner.

"Repeat that a few more times and you may actually start believing it," Mason teased her. Scout glared at him. He wrapped his arms around her. "He'll be fine," he assured her. "We've somehow managed to do a fair job on that one."

Scout chuckled nervously. "This is his first time to be on his own outside our borders."

"He won't be alone, though. He has two friends from the Academy accompanying him. They're well trained. They'll protect him should harm come his way. We can't shelter him forever."

Scout sighed. "Unfortunately."

Mason kissed her and laced their fingers, leading her towards their bed. "He's just handling negotiations for a treaty."

"With an ally we aren't personally linked to. This isn't Araluen, Mason."

"No, but it isn't Toscana either. It's Celtica. They've finally come into their own since that business with the Wargals and it's time we reach out to them. Our countries were allies a long time ago. Hazen has tokens from that time to present as goodwill."

Scout sighed again, this time impatiently. "I know."

"Of course you know. This was all your idea."

"What if he's not ready, Mason?"

Mason chuckled. "He is."

"He grew up too fast."

"He did."

"How do we stop Mara from doing that?"

"We don't."

Scout smiled as she lay down next to him. "If you're waiting for me to tell you that you're right, it's not going to happen."

Mason pulled her into his arms. "I'd never be so foolish, love."