The portal dropped them on the path to the cottage door. That made sense. Trying for inside the house from Cole's experimental device might have seemed a wee bit reckless to the careful Franklin. Eric checked the area with his new glasses. Nobody else around. Soon there would be, though. An alarm would be beeping somewhere in Chandless' office. Doubtless Rosine's as well. He'd deactivate those when he had a moment, if they weren't polite enough to do it themselves. He turned to steady Alan, who was valiantly resisting falling to pieces now that he had time for it.

Alan was beginning to shiver in shock. He explained earnestly to Eric that it was perfectly normal, given that they had ported into a cold grey November afternoon. Eric knew better. Alan's final meeting with Will would give him nightmares for a while.

"'Tis a fine yard and cottage, me lad. Ye'll have time to plan before the growing season."

Alan took a step forward. "I'm free," he said shakily. "Free. How very odd that feels. Will was peeling my hide off and all I could feel was the chains falling away."

"Aye. I knew you could handle him if he attacked. He's not been training lately. Did he try?"

"No. For him, words were weapons enough. But I think he's very close to a breakdown."

"Then shouting probably did him a world of good. Dinna fash yersel'. Come, let's go inside."

Alan took another wavering step and stopped. "He didn't shout. At all."

"Aye. Sometimes it's worse that way. But it is over."

"My staff, though. They will – no. They'll be fine. It will be the same as if we'd died in a Ravening. The ranks will close and go forward. The Branch will adjust. I made every possible arrangement for them. To ease the transition."

"Of course ye did. They will adapt and so will we. I have changed Branches many times, me Light. I have been kicked out of several, walked out of three and was the sole survivor of one. The only way to go is onward. This is our place now. A good place, with good people."

"They've gone out of their way to help us escape. It was very kind of them."

Eric looked at his partner's pale profile. Definitely a hot cuppa was indicated, and other consolations. "Kind, indeed. In return, we probably shouldn't startle anybody too much just yet. Good thing that we're technically on medical leave. I haven't warned them that I am going to rebuild their physical training programs from the ground up."

"I'm looking forward to improving the Branch alliances. And teaching." Alan took a deep breath. "But right this moment, off duty, early winter, let's see what we can see."

Alan crouched down and removed a glove. He laid his hand beside the path, pressing his fingers into the frosted ground. He paused for a moment, eyes closed, listening to the earth. A bit of color was returning to his face. He turned to Eric with a faint smile. "There's life here. I wonder how they did that. We are wholly in our Realm, yet there are little wildflowers and minor bulbs dormant in this soil, dreaming of spring. Snowdrops, signifying hope. Dandelions, a symbol for overcoming hardship. Fraises des bois, friendship and love. Spring beauties, rebirth and renewal and eagerness for new beginnings. Mason bees. No ants. Whoever set up this tiny pocket climate is talented. I want to meet them and make good things happen for them." He stood. Eric noticed a touch of green where his hand had rested.

"Ach, ye shall. Come inside, now, ye'll take a chill. We have a teapot to lay on the kitchen table with all due ceremony. Inside it is a bag of the best blessed tea. By the time ye've washed up I will have it brewing."

Alan chuckled as they walked up the path. "I left a box of chocolate digestives here two days ago. We shall raise our cups to our new home and our new freedom, which will last until our new employers show up to tell us all our new duties. Within the hour, likely. There, listen. The phone's ringing."