Alyss was returning home after a long day at the castle. Her Courier duties had increased since Pauline had left with Halt to visit Castle Aruean to see how the King was after his injury. A familiar sound was brought to her by the sound of two mandolas being played and two voices lifted in song, the pleasant baritone of her husband Will and the alto of her daughter Sadie. They were singing Cabin in the Trees, the ending song for the annual gathering. The usual end of their performance.
Daniel was in his apprenticeship, so it would be just the three of them for now. Alyss smiled remembering his excitement to be chosen to help Old and Young Bob out with the Ranger horses. "I know I will never really be a Ranger like dad or a Courier like you, but this way I can help." She nodded to herself, Daniel said that to her before he left. It would be good for him she knew, yet she still missed her boy.
Rounding the turn she found Will and Sadie sitting on the front porch. There was now a good smell of a bakery. Looking up Sadie smiled, "Mom," ran up and hugged her, "I baked."
Returning the hug smiling, "I can smell that. It smells wonderful."
Will had gotten up as well and smiled to see his wife and daughter together. The agony of hearing that they had been in a fire still gnawed at him, but they were safe. It was something the burn on Sadies neck always reminded him of, but the twelve year old was not the worse for that wear and was gaining the poised grace of her mother. They turned together and came to him on the front porch, and Alyss kissed him. Life was good.