Tyler knocked softly on Maddy's bedroom door, which was slightly ajar. He pushed it open with his free hand. The other clutched the full pack he had slung over his shoulder. Maddy looked up from tucking in the last of her clothes.

"Hey," she said when she saw him.

"You ready?" Tyler asked

"As much as I'll ever be," she responded, closing up her pack.

"Also known as 'barely,'" Tyler replied, with a bit of a smile.

"Well, you said yourself, what if I don't want to go around saving kingdoms?" Maddy said, turning around to face him.

"Come on," he told her, going out the door. "We can't put it off forever."

Maddy grabbed her pack and bounded out of her room after him, not wanting to have to look back. Something inside her told her she wouldn't be back by the end of the season.

Tyler walked calmly down the hall but inside he was feeling uncomfortable. He did like getting off of the farm every now and again but not necessarily if it meant having to take a trip across the entire realm. He'd only done it once but that was when he was a wide-eyed kid in the home stretch of his toddler years.

The two plodded down the stairs to where Mrs. Vanilla and the herald were sitting again. Mrs. Vanilla looked up from her favorite, overstuffed armchair and came to give them both a hug. The twins saw she was beginning to get teary-eyed.

"Now, you two be good," she said as she embraced them both at once, "Remember to be very polite to His Majesty. Keep as clean as you can. I hope to see you both very soon, once this whole business is sorted out."

"We will," said Tyler, nodding solemnly.

"Bye," was all Maddy managed, hugging Mrs. Vanilla tighter.

"Well, they're yours now," said Mrs. Vanilla, straightening and wiping tears from her eyes. She put her hands on the twins' backs and urged them forward. "Send me word when you arrive safely."

"Yes, Ma'am," replied the herald, bowing politely. "I assure you, I'll take very good care of them."

Maddy and Tyler made for the door. Mrs. Vanilla pulled out her handkerchief and blew her nose in it. Maddy shouldered her pack as she stepped out the door. The herald followed them both out, pulling his cloak about himself so the bright pink and white of his uniform was less visible. Mrs. Vanilla followed to the door but did not cross the threshold. She stood in the doorway, gazing after them. The herald untied his horse. It was a bay gelding and very handsome, though not so much now that he had dried sweat and dirt in his coat. He nodded to Mrs. Vanilla and led his horse away from the modest, half-timber house. Maddy and Tyler waved and took one last look back. Then they turned and followed the herald for the long journey to Candy Castle.