Author's Note: Sofia would say that Cookiesnet is 'ah-mazing'. Her newest art piece was done at my fangirl insistence for this chapter. Please show her some love on deviantart: HT TP semi colon slash slash fav dot me slash d8wzrxc

Chapter 12: Healing

…

…

Sofia finally awoke in her bed. She moved slightly and felt her leg in a splint. Woozy and suffering from delirium she finally made out the form of a nursemaid sitting next to her. The woman was dabbing her forehead with a wet cloth. "Hello Ma'am, I am so glad you're awake. When Baileywick found you like that we feared the worst."

"Huh?" The room seemed to be spinning with Sofia along for the nauseating side.

"Don't worry Ma'am you're going to be just fine. The palace doctor stitched up your thigh but the burn on your ankle from dinner will still take a long time to heal."

Sofia closed her eyes and tried to make sense of what was said. They must have assumed that the new burn was the old one, but what about the deep cut? Sofia looked around the spinning room. There was a gigantic vase of ornate flowers on her dresser and her mirror was missing. She tried to focus on that corner of the room when the nurse began to speak, "Your father was so upset that you'd tripped and fallen he had all the standing mirrors thrown out of the castle. We could have lost you your Highness."

So, they had assumed it had all happened inside the castle. Sofia let out a deep sigh of relief and shifted her weight as best she could. She was alive, and no one was the wiser.

The maid excused herself and in burst her Mother, with Rolland following behind. Miranda in flowing night robes hobbled over to her beloved daughter, her normally full cheeks sunken and eyes glazed over. "Oh Sofia! We were so worried about you!"

Struggling to stay awake, Sofia tried to muster words of comfort to assuage the woman's uneasiness. "I'm fine Mom. Please don't worry, the baby. The baby. Wait, you're out of bed. I'm so happy. Mr. Cedric's potion." She settled back in to the pillows, still weakened and eyes involuntarily closing, "I'm so glad. So glad. Mr. Cedric saved you."

Rolland boomed at the end of the bed, "That remains to be seen, but she's right dear, you should get back to bed. Everyone just needs to rest for now." Miranda was stroking her hair and Rolland leaned against the bedpost, lost in thought. "It's going to be okay Sofia, everything's going to be okay." Miranda pulled up the blanket around Sofia's neck and the princess could no longer fight the relentless pull back into unconsciousness.

…

…

Sofia felt a chill about her legs that roused her from slumber. The blankets and splint had been removed and someone was touching her leg. She let out a shriek, and before her hovered Greylock. "Hello Princess! Sorry to wake you, I thought I could be in and out with you none the wiser. It's better that way for the young, easily embarrassed maidens. Seems you got into a spot of trouble, we'll have that fixed right up."

Woozy from sleep and recovery she stammered, "Greylock? I'm not really in an 'entertaining' mood right now, we can visit later."

The wizard simply chuckled at her. "No Sofia, I'm here to heal you, NOT to play. This time."

"Why Greylock? Mr. Cedric did a wonderful job." She shook her head back and forth, rubbing her eyes. The fog covering her mind was slowly lifting.

"Well obviously not, he said you were practically healed but the burn on your leg is much worse than everyone thought. He obviously couldn't handle it."

Oh no. Poor Cedric. He'd been blamed for the condition of her burnt leg, and he must have taken the criticism without defending himself too, because Greylock was standing here in her bedroom.

"No really Greylock, Mr. Cedric is the best. He's a really good healer, I know it."

"Yes well I don't care if he's growing lilies from his head, I've been given a royal command and I intend to complete it."

Greylock returned his attentions to her uncovered legs and was reaching into areas that shouldn't be inspected by relative strangers. The injury to her inner thigh was pretty high up. She was actually extremely lucky the shrapnel didn't hit her torso or both of her legs at once.

"Just relax Sofia, I do spells not potions so I won't be touching anything too personal."

Greylock did perform his spells, but as he inspected her wound he seemed to be growing suspicious. He kept looking back at Sofia's face in a strange sideways manner. The entire process made the princess extremely uncomfortable. No man had ever been in such close proximity, staring THERE. Greylock was focusing his wand on a particularly high up region when the door opened and Cedric slunk in. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair disheveled. Sofia was paying attention to where Greylocks' wand was, her nervous hands shaking about while she fought an inner struggle of letting him perform his healing duties with the embarrassment of having him touch her, but she eventually saw the sorcerer along the wall, grimacing at the vase of thorny stems still sitting on her dresser. When Cedric saw Sofia looking at him his lip began to quiver and he started biting it. He immediately looked away, then bolted over to where Greylock stood.

"Keep your distance Greylock."

"Relax Ced-drake, it's just my wand. You know stitches are only temporary and I need to do as your king commanded."

Sofia realized that she needed everyone to keep their distance or she would be found out, fast. Cedric would know for certain the new burn was not the old one. "Greylock I'm not comfortable with this. Please stop" and with that tried to recover herself with the blanket.

"Now Sofia your father asked me to do this. Don't worry, unlike Ced-flick it's not the first time I've been this close to a lady."

"No really I want you to stop."

"Sofia-"

"STOP TOUCHING ME THERE."

Greylock shot his hand and wand up into the air but not soon enough, as Cedric had grabbed him by the collar and pushed him away from Sofia's bed. Greylock seemed stunned, "Whoa Red-brick, just calm down okay I did what she asked."

Cedric's eyes narrowed and his face grew hard. "Nobody touches my Sofia, that includes you Greylock."

Greylock's eyes narrowed, and he scowled at Cedric. "This is about the tournament, isn't it?"

"Mr. Cedric, please let him go. I'm fine okay. I'm fine." Sofia had covered herself with blankets again. "Please." Cedric let go of the man's collar and put his hand up to his eyes and was rubbing them excessively. "Mr. Cedric I'm okay, really."

He sat down on the edge of her bed and sulked while Greylock stood there stunned. Greylock looked over at Sofia who was defensively postured in the bed, and then back at Cedric who was slumped over with his head in his hands. "Cedric you didn't."

Cedric looked up at the rival sorcerer, confused. Sofia had no idea what Greylock was thinking either, and he'd actually used Cedric's real name. Greylock just stood there, he'd folded his arms across his chest, with the same accusatory look he'd been throwing at Sofia earlier. "I don't like this Cedric."

"I don't care what you like or don't like Greylock."

"Well you should care. All this possessive behavior and now she's mysteriously injured. Her parents may think she had a run in with a mirror but I don't buy it for one bit. Not where her injury was. Not with those bruises. You were in here all night with her too, weren't you Cedric?"

"Just what are you implying Greylock?" Cedric had risen and was now facing the sorcerer from Rudistan head on.

"Sofia is there something you need to tell me?" Greylock was looking intently at Sofia, but she shied away from his gaze. What was he going on about? The foreign sorcerer kept pressing her, "Sofia you can tell me who did this to you."

She couldn't speak on how it really happened and started to hyperventilate while searching desperately within herself for something to say that would get the visiting sorcerer to leave. Cedric grew defensive, "See here Greylock, she's in no condition to be interrogated, and certainly not by the likes of you."

"Alright Cedric, we should go talk in your workshop. Please excuse us Princess Sofia."

Saved by Cedric, she gave the sorcerer a tiny smile of thanks. They turned to leave, but Sofia still needed her wand and the spell book to heal the wound. "WAIT! Mr. Cedric, can you hand me my wand? I know I can do the spell myself. I was trying to but I fainted before I could finish."

Cedric's demeanor shifted on a dime. It was a little frightening actually. "Of course Princess, of course." He hurried over to the table where her wand now sat and picked it up gingerly, carrying it over with all the respect a fine instrument deserved. He set it down in her open palms and smiled gently at her. "Do you need the spell book too?"

She nodded and he fetched the volume for her. "Thank you Mr. Cedric."

"Of course Sofia. Of course." After handing her the spell book he hovered for but a brief instant in front of her face. He looked simply dreadful, tired and worn to the bone as if he'd wandered through a war zone. He seemed desperate to speak to her, but then Greylock growled and he turned to leave.

Cedric and Greylock departed, and Sofia set about healing the deep cut herself. She had the spell down in a couple minutes. It was actually not as complicated as it seemed when she was hemorrhaging earlier. When it was over Sofia realized she had no idea how long she'd been out. It was nighttime now, but her father had been in his dinner ensemble when she awoke briefly. It had probably been at least a day since she came home injured, perhaps more.

Out from a pillow bounded Clover, a little parchment in his paw. "Hey Sofia! Oh man I was so worried about you!"

"I'm sorry to make you worry Clover. You've been here the whole time, haven't you?"

The bunny smiled, "How'd you know?"

Sofia glanced over at the barren stems that used to be an elaborate boquet on her dresser, "Let's just say I recognize your handiwork."

The bunny grinned sheepishly, "Yeah well, nervous eater, and I didn't really think you cared about flowers from Hugo." He was right about that.

"Thanks for everything yesterday friend. You helped save my life." Sofia stroked his furry head and the bunny was delighted to receive the attention.

"You've been asleep for three days Sofia. Oh yea! I've got a message for you. Lucinda snuck in while your nurse stepped out and I've been keeping it hidden." He pushed the tiny fragment of parchment toward her on the bed.

"Wow, three days. No wonder I'm so hungry. Thanks for keeping my note safe Clover."

"Sure, now read it already!"

Sofia anxiously unfurled the parchment and a brief few sentences were scribbled down:

...

So glad you'll be okay.
Can't stay.
Lambs safe in the trees.
Whispers on the breeze from across the seas.
Come see me
for tea.

-PFU-L

...

"What does it mean Sofia?" Clover asked her quizzically.

"I think… Lucinda was worried about me but came by and saw that I was okay and resting." Sofia cocked her head to one side, "Lambs are… the innocent! That means Papa and the others are safe, and it looks like she's got more information on what's happening in Maldonia. I need to go to Lucinda's house, once my leg heals up." She stared at the signature, whatever in the world did PFU-L mean?

Just then Wormwood came flying in through the window. "I see you're feeling better Princess."

"Yeah, thanks for trying to help me Wormwood."

The raven cawed loudly. "What do you mean trying? I fetched the spell book. I even dragged that grey haired butler in here to find you."

"Awww Wormwood! You brought Baileywick." Sofia reached out and scratched the bird under the beak, just the way he liked it. "My hero!"

Clover puffed up, "Hey! I helped too! Who got the windows open after all? It wasn't you feathers."

"But did you bring the spell book fur-ball? Or the butler?"

*Caw caw*

The phoenix was chirping and frantic at their fighting. Sofia chided, "Please stop you two! You're upsetting her." They halted the arguments and turned away from each other.

Sofia looked over at her little phoenix. Wormwood had done a good job of taking care of her; it had grown a little bigger and was now calming down and trying to find a comfortable position nestled in the folds of her blankets. "Hey Wormwood, I don't suppose you could bring her some twigs for a nest? She needs somewhere nice to sleep once she gets bigger."

"Hmmm…" Wormwood seemed to be sizing up the little creature. "I suppose I am just like Cedric. Yes, I will bring some twigs in the morning so she can build a nest."

The raven circled a bit and then settled in to Sofia's blankets next to her little phoenix. "What are you doing Wormwood? Why aren't you flying back to Mr. Cedric's tower for the night?"

"I'm not interested in hearing Greylock and Cedric scream at each other anymore. When they started to fight it was my cue to leave."

"WHAT! They're fighting? Why are they fighting?"

"It seems Greylock thinks that Cedric caused your injuries. I don't really think you fell and the mirror cut you either, but I know Cedric wasn't responsible."

This was horrible. Sofia needed to stop it immediately. She flung the blankets off but then realized her leg was still badly burned. "Wormwood, I need more of the whompus root and vex vine potions, can you get them for me?"

Wormwood looked down at her leg. "That's worse than before, isn't it?"

"Yes now please get me the potions, and a lot of linen."

The bird flew off and returned a minute later, dropping two vials onto the bed. "Thanks for being so cooperative today Wormwood."

The raven glanced over at the brightly plumed phoenix nestled in the bed. "I have my reasons. You'd better hurry though, Cedric hasn't slept for days so he's not exactly in fighting form."

Sofia wrapped her leg in the potion mixture and then threw on a loose blouse and her derby-riding pants to cover her bottom half. The numbing spell worked wonders again but left her a bit uncoordinated. She managed to lug the deadened leg up the tower steps, and heard muffled noises coming from the other side of Cedric's workshop door. Flinging it open revealed Greylock on top of Cedric, pinning him to the ground. His hand was smashing Cedric's face into the stone floor. Some bottles had been knocked over and Wormwood's perch lay strewn in pieces upon the ground.

"Just admit it Cedric!"

Horrified, Sofia screamed, "GET OFF OF HIM NOW."

Greylock shot up off of Cedric and both the sorcerers stood there, dusting themselves off. "Sofia you don't have to protect -."

"ENOUGH." The sorcerers stood silently. "I want to state for the record, RIGHT NOW, that Mr. Cedric would never intentionally hurt me. That accusation is completely unfounded." Greylock looked her over once more and Cedric cringed. "Now Greylock thank you for your time but I think you should go."

Rudistan's royal sorcerer slowly walked out of the workshop and stood beside her at the door. "Well, I see that you've managed to heal yourself. Good work Princess. I sincerely hope it isn't needed again." He shot an accusatory look at Cedric and then turned, heading down the stairs.

Sofia looked back at a thoroughly embarrassed Cedric. He turned his head away in shame.

"Did he hurt you Mr. Cedric?"

Sofia limped over to him to inspect the damage. Luckily Cedric didn't see the awkward shuffle her numb leg produced. He had a cut lip but Sofia suspected being pinned by Rudistan's royal sorcerer had hurt Cedric's pride more than anything. "Hold still okay."

Sofia lifted up her hand and cupped Cedric's chin, pulling it closer to her own. She held her wand to his lip with the other hand and chanted the healing spell she'd just learned. The blood disappeared and the cut healed. Cedric was watching her out of the corner of his eye, thoroughly upset.

Instead of the anticipated gratitude for the healing he started to shake his head and grab his hair. The disheveled sorcerer turned around to face Sofia straight on. "I can't even leave you alone in your own ROOM now!"

"Mr. Cedric—"

"What do I have to do? Cover the castle in FOAM! Don't think I won't do it! Poseidon's pumpkins Sofia! I'll invent the blasted spell if I have too!"

"Please don't be upset Mr. Cedric. It makes me sad to see you unhappy." The pain in his eyes quickly vanished and he walked away sad, slumping into his chair. She reiterated, "Please don't be upset Mr. Cedric. You made Mom's potion! It must have worked, because she was able to come into my room." She shuffled over to his chair before he could turn. Resting a hand on his shoulder, he placed his own on top of hers and squeezed it tightly.

"I brewed it, but I was so worried about you I think I left out an ingredient or two. Your mother is better, but she still has trouble eating anything. The king is furious at me. He wouldn't even let me try to heal your new injury."

"Oh Mr. Cedric, I'm so sorry I made you worry, it's all my fault." She reached around and hugged him tightly about the neck, her hair tumbling down onto his shoulder. His big chance to impress the King was ruined. Or was it?

"Mr. Cedric, do you have more of the flower?" He nodded ever so slowly, "Well then we can brew more, and we can do it together, for Mom."

He looked up at her, that special spark rekindling inside him. "I suppose, it has been days since the Queen ate something more than a morsel. Alright I'll do it, if a certain apprentice keeps track of the ingredients."

A bubbling cauldron and several mashed ingredients later, Sofia was guiding him along the path to success as she always did. A giggle even escaped her when one of the wisps of steam blew back into his face, making him sneeze purple bubbles. His hair was still disheveled and eyes bloodshot, but he seemed to be regaining a bit of his normal effervescence as potion making always improved his disposition.

It finally set up perfectly, and he smiled. Stoppering the vial he turned and reached out to hug her. Seconds turned to a minute, and he refused to let go. He whispered into her ear, "Oh Sofia you almost died."

She had to cheer him up, "I'm okay Mr. Cedric, really I am."

"But you were so hurt and they wouldn't let me do anything. Oh.." He gripped her even tighter. "I couldn't survive the loneliness again, I'm sure of it."

"Mr. Cedric please don't be upset. I'm okay and I'll always be here for you. Please don't be sad anymore."

He wouldn't let up, and more whispers came out of him, "Are you happy Sofia?"

How could she answer? She'd just witnessed Greylock pin Cedric in a wrestler's hold. That wasn't exactly thrilling. Rolland hadn't kept his word about ensuring the prisoners safety. Her Mom was still ill... and did Edith… survive?

Cedric finally pulled his face from her shoulder, and seemed to be almost in tears. He'd been so worried about her. "So, you're unhappy then."

"No. I mean, I'm extremely unhappy that Greylock attacked you and also that there is a war going on but I'm not really sure why you're asking me this. We just had some fun brewing Mom's potion, didn't we?"

He looked back down at the potions table and squeezed her tight about the middle once more.

"Do… I make you unhappy Sofia?"

"NO. What kind of question is that? You're the best Mr. Cedric, and Mom! She's doing better, and with that potion you just made she'll be eating again. Dad is going to be really happy with you, I just know it!"

He looked so unhappy. It seemed like holding her was the only thing keeping him from emotional collapse.

"Mr. Cedric, are YOU unhappy?"

He looked away. His happiness was in question. She stroked his hair like a mother comforting a small child and coaxed his head back into her shoulder. It seemed to be helping, so Sofia kept at it.

"Tell me what's wrong Mr. Cedric."

He just buried his head farther into her shoulder. The words would not come.

"Please Mr. Cedric… Please talk to me. What can I do to make you feel better?"

"Don't leave me alone again Sofia. Stay with me tonight."

"Okay, I won't leave. How about we… go stargazing like we did last year. Sound good?"

A genuine smile crossed his lips. "Oh Sofia! But are you sure you're up for it?"

"Uh-huh."

"Then of course! I'll go get some of your favorite cookies from the kitchen too!"

Cookies. Sofia cringed a bit but was met with an accusatory stare. "I KNOW your favorites, they're the strawberry ones. I'll even grab some of the mint for myself. We had them last time after all."

She nodded. Hunger was rumbling in the pit of her stomach. "How about this, you go get the medicine to Mom, then grab the cookies and I'll get the blankets. We can meet outside."

"In the locked garden, the one with the well we're all not supposed to talk about." He interjected.

"But why there Mr. Cedric? Last year we sat on the hillside by the rose garden."

"Well the hillside is rather 'open', and I'd just rather not have to go explaining to Baileywick why you're out of bed so soon after your injury."

"Sure." He nodded and was off to deliver the medicine.

Even with a limp she beat him to the garden and picked the lock, spreading the blankets to await his arrival. Arrive he did with a pile of cookies, jubilant at having delivered the potion to a thankful Queen. Snuggled into their respective blankets, they stared up at the stars together. Sofia's mind kept wandering back to Friezenburg. Did Edith… survive? She looked over at Cedric, who was happily munching on mint cookies in the candlelight. Did she… kill his sister? Sofia caught herself. There was no way to know, and until this new burn healed she was buoyed to Enchancia. All the while the strawberry cookies taunted her from Cedric's plate. He finally reached down, grabbed one of them and put it in her hand. She sighed and inspected the thing in the dim starlight.

Cedric bobbed his head back and forth a bit, then set the plate down between them. "I've noticed."

"Huh? What did you notice Mr. Cedric?"

"You're not eating. Well, not eating enough. The sandwich at our lunch in the gazebo, the spread I brought you in bed a couple days ago before you... and now see here, these are your favorites. I picked them on purpose just for you, and your just staring at them. Aren't you hungry Sofia?"

What could she say? "Um, yeah. I am hungry. I guess it's been a while since I ate."

Arms crossed and fingers anxiously tapping, he was waiting for her, then sighed and reached out to stroke her hair. "Sofia, do you think I'm a 'twig'?"

"Of course not Mr. Cedric! Why would you even say such a thing?"

"Because my sister knows how to prey on people. It's what she does best. Now how would you feel if I gorged myself on pancakes because she told me I was too skinny, hmmm?" Sofia shrunk down a bit. He had her perfectly pegged. "Now what would you say to me Sofia?"

"I'd say that... you're perfect just the way you are, no matter what any one else says."

"Exactly." He pushed the plate closer to her, and she started nibbling on them. They were delicious. He started fidgeting nervously again, "Now see here Sofia... I... er... um... well that is..."

"What is it Mr. Cedric? I'm eating the cookies."

"Yes yes, I know. Um... well the thing is... alright here goes, I think you're beautiful just the way you are." He cringed a bit as he said it, but it was the nicest compliment any friend could bestow. He'd noticed her distress, and offered up the most encouragement any good friend with poor social skills could offer.

"Thank you Mr. Cedric. It means a lot coming from you." He let out a great sigh of relief and fell onto his back, looking up at the stars.

...

Cookies demolished, they laid there under the stars on an almost perfect evening. The only disruptions were tiny gusts of wind that blew her hair about her face.

"Mr. Cedric, what's your favorite constellation?"

He looked around at the stars a bit before finally pointing to a particularly bright and lonely little speck of light.

"The north star."

"Mr. Cedric that's a star, not a constellation."

"Define constellation Sofia."

"A group of stars that form a pattern."

"Well then, the north star is a group of one."

Was he joking? She couldn't help but break out in a fit of giggles, and saw him look over at her. It was hard to tell in the night, but he was smiling.

"You're so funny Mr. Cedric. I really needed that laugh."

"Glad to be of service, but it really wasn't meant to be a joke Sofia."

"Then why is it your favorite?"

"Because I've always been a group of one, so I find it comforting. I suppose I identify with it."

It was rather sad what he just said. He didn't really have any friends besides her, did he? "But you're not a group of one anymore, you've got me and I'm the best apprentice ever to the most talented sorcerer in the universe."

"I suppose you are right about that. I'll have to switch my favorite to Sirius then."

"Mr. Cedric!"

A torrent of giggles escaped the princess, and the sorcerer looked back up at the stars with what appeared to be a gigantic smile.

"Do you have a favorite constellation Sofia?"

She looked up at them, trying to pick out a nice grouping. They all had meanings. The twins? No, that was definitely Amber and James. The spoon? Chef Andre of course. The crab? The shoe? There wasn't a rabbit constellation, was there? Not as far as she knew. "No, not really. I guess I like them all."

He let out a sigh. "I suppose it's in your nature."

Huh? Sofia looked down from the sky toward Cedric, but he wasn't looking at the stars anymore. Instead he was staring at her.

"What is it Mr. Cedric?"

"I was just thinking Sofia."

"About what?"

He paused for a long while. "All sorts of things, but most of them relate to you."

"Well, are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?"

He paused again for quite some time. Maybe he was suspicious of the mirror explanation too. That would be awful. He could never know. "For starters, I'm glad I taught you magic, even though I only started doing it to steal your amulet."

Sofia let out a little sigh of relief. Of all the things he could be thinking, she was prepared for that particular one. "Oh yeah. That." He reached out and wrapped his long thin fingers around her amulet. Suddenly a bit of worry crept up in Sofia's mind.

"That precious purple thing. I always thought it was the key to my salvation."

Sofia pulled back a bit so his fingers were forced to let go. "Where are you going with this Mr. Cedric?"

He rested his hand on the small valley of blankets between them. "Perhaps it was after all."

Sofia tensed. He wasn't really thinking about stealing the jewel again, was he? Not after all this time and everything that had happened. "Do I need to worry about you stealing my amulet again Mr. Cedric?"

His relaxed hand suddenly balled into a fist. "Of course not Sofia. Your treasures are of far greater worth than the amulet. I'd never destroy what we have for some magical trinket, not any longer."

He must be talking about their friendship. Relief washed over her. "Oh, I get it Mr. Cedric. I'm really glad the amulet brought us together too."

She looked back up at the stars. They really were pretty things. A sudden gust of wind blew again and managed to find it's way under her throw. It sent shivers through her body and she pulled her arms in tighter to conserve the warmth. She couldn't help but think about how the same sized throw covered him with fabric to spare, and sighed to herself.

"Are you cold Sofia?"

"A little. I should have grabbed a bigger blanket for myself."

Cedric reached over and put his hand around the small of her waist, pulling her in closer to his chest. In an instant he extended his throw to cover her. "Better Princess?"

She nodded and he seemed to forgo his usual sarcastic comments when she came unprepared, laying his head down and closing his eyes. All of a sudden Sofia realized something. Cedric needed her friendship; she was his closest companion in the world besides his pet raven.

If he ever found out what she had done to his sister, or what she was doing in Friezenburg all this time and the half-truths she'd been telling him it would break his heart. She looked back at him and he had begun to snore. He'd curled one of his hands up to his face and was only an inch from the side of her head, breathing softly on her neck; the other hand was still on her waist and now parts of his leg touching her uninjured one. They really should have gone back to their rooms, but Wormwood said he hadn't slept since returning from Leidleville to find her half dead and now that she was okay he probably passed out from tiredness. She should be nicer to him; after all if she had found him in a similar condition it would have driven her mad with worry. Sofia stared up at the stars for a while longer, then closed her eyes and let sleep take her. Tomorrow she would visit Lucinda for answers, but for now it was just warmth and starlight in the company of a dear friend.