Sam dashed through the infirmary pushing through the hole in the wall and stopping on the edge of the bevvy of furious fighting. Until now, she had only seen their defensive skills, which were good in their own right but without restrictions ... these leather-clad brethren she was proud to know as family, they were not the weak warriors of the tales; they were fierce, strong, and a force that should never have been underestimated. A grin spread over her face as she noted their superior skills. The intruder's bodies fell like flies being swatted on a hot day.

"Sam," she turned at the call of her name, nodding a greeting to the two young men whom she knew from training, "is everything in place?"

"Jet and Jasper, I should have known you'd be in the thick of the action," Sam smiled, "yes, our heritage is secure. Your father and mother requested Garan's release from his oath, I see ... otherwise, you wouldn't be here."

"We would have done it sooner, but we didn't know who he was or what he looked like," Jet said, glancing at their Uncle, "he said something that gave himself away ... something about our heritage."

"Let me guess you took a chance and uttered the words," Sam said, easing them out of the way of the combatants, as they shrugged, "better than saying them to every one of the warriors."

"Oh, that would have been disastrous," Jasper said, "we would be killed instantly. We had to be sure."

"Fair enough," Sam said, looking around, "there is a lot of fighting, but why are they still coming with the bridge down?"

Sam watched as the two young men pointed toward the rock ceiling and sighed.

"What are you saying?" Sam asked, "Are they coming in from the roof?"

"That is what we have been thinking," Jasper said, "the traps did spring, but once sprung,.."

"Yeah, they don't respring," Sam said, sighing, "since the restrictions have been lifted and you two have done what you were asked … do you want to plug a leak with me?" The answering grins were accompanied by two nods, "Let's go. Remember this is dangerous, and look for anything that may not be as it should be."

"Everything we're seeing is not as it should be," Jet said, "but we hear you."

"Let's have some fun," Jasper said, rolling his shoulders as they ploughed into the fray, heading toward the stairs from the top of the rock ceiling.

Carl followed closely behind the three women as they entered the infirmary, pausing at the door as he took in the injured. He couldn't tell if any were dying or dead in the commotion nor why a protection detail would be needed for Cherry inside her mountain. Perhaps it was one of those things he still didn't understand.

"Andriette," a short chubby woman with rosy cheeks gasped, "what happened?"

"Leigha, it was the last of the Tenderhook line," she whispered, "Sam, Carl and Barait ended it all …."

"But not before he hurt you," Leigha said, clucking away, "and what are you two doing carrying her in here like a …" her words immediately halted as she took in the two girls "Sherry … if you're… here …" she looked at the other "… my Queen."

Carl watched as Leigha's head bowed while placing her hand on her chest, not moving while she waited. Cherry looked at her sister in bewilderment. Sherry silently indicated with wide eyes and a nod toward Leigha that she awaited her sister's response. He chuckled at the innocence of it all, enjoying it while it lasted.

"You are required to acknowledge her as a subject before she will move again," Andriette whispered, smiling at Cherry's baffled expression, "you are their Queen now, not the heir."

Cherry swallowed hard, nodded, and cleared her throat, "Thank you for your homage Leigha I …" she paused as the women looked up, her expression eager and waiting for the request, "… we need your help with Andriette, Sam was able to stop the worst of the injury, but more medical attention is required to save her life."

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"We will serve as you require," Leigha said, sounding very formal to Cherry's ears.

"Ah, Leigha," she caught the woman's attention as they helped Andriette onto an empty bed, "I understand there is much I have to learn, but is that way of addressing me really required?"

"Yes," Leigha said, noting Cherry's sigh and catching Andriette's speaking look, "but only …" she smiled as Cherry met her perceptive gaze, "… should permission for a less formal approach in conversation be declined."

Carl could only guess which way Cherry would take the conversation further. In the time Cherry had been known to him, first when watching her as a child, then tracking her when she had been taken from her parents. Now meeting her as an adult, he realised she had never been one to enjoy the formalities thrust upon people's interactions; it would be interesting to watch her flourish as a Queen of her people.

"Please can we drop the formalities," Cherry said, "address me as Cherry and I will be happy to address you as Leigha."

"I thank you for that, my Queen," Leigha said, nodding her head reverently before lifting a mischievous look to Cherry's, "your mother was much the same; she only kept the formalities for formal occasions. Now, if you wouldn't mind …" she glanced at the small group around the bed, "make room so I can assist our head healer," moving into the space made Leigha met Andriette's eyes, "brethren I am here to serve and heal."

Andriette smiled, clasping the offered hand, "I'm here to heal and serve. Attend me."

Carl noted Cherry's confused expression while her sister looked misty-eyed at the pair they had just left.

"Problem, your Majesty?" Carl asked, watching Cherry's eyes widen as reality struck home.

"I really am Queen of these people," she whispered, stopping next to Carl and watching the room, "is it normal to be frightened?"

"Depends what you're frightened of," Carl said quietly, "meeting a challenge? Offending these people in some way …" he glanced around before meeting Cherry's gaze, "... yes, you may be responsible for all these people and their lives but ... you are their Queen, if you decided their path lies in a different direction to the one they are on, they would follow."

"How do you know?" Cherry asked.

"I have known them my entire life," Carl said, "first as friends, then when my family discarded me … as family. My refuge was this mountain home until Garan required someone with outside knowledge to run the brethren protection unit outside these walls."

"How long have you known me?" Cherry asked.

"I met you as a young girl," Carl smiled, "and have known you since then."

"Did you know where I was when taken?" Cherry asked, watching Leigha and Andriette.

"No, but it helped to acquire the funding required to grow our organisation into what we have today. In a way, your disappearance helped us become something to protect your people," he smiled, before frowning slightly, "my only regret is we couldn't find you sooner."

"No matter what I went through," Cherry smiled, looking at her sister's emotional expression with tears in her eyes, "I'm happy to be home. Sherry, what is the matter?"

"It has been many years since I have seen something so sweet," Sherry whispered, her gaze never leaving the two women.

"What about Leigha and Andriette, or their interaction ... is sweet?" Cherry asked, glancing at Carl with concern radiating from her eyes, "Is there something I should be aware of?"

"Andriette is one of the original healers," Sherry whispered, swiping at her wet cheeks, "Leigha learnt her skill from Andriette and is the last in the line of the original healers. The pupil now attends the teacher."

"What about everyone around here?" Carl asked.

"They are apprentices … learning their skill in healing," Sherry whispered, "they have still much to learn and many years before they become a completed healer."

Carl and Cherry looked around them, understanding more fully how desperate the world of these people had become.

"You were nearly pushed to the brink of extinction," Carl muttered, anger rising once more, "this should have ended sooner."

"It could never have ended sooner," Sherry said, "we needed to be of age for anything to change. At least Cherry realised it and came home," she hugged her sister to her side, "I am happy you are home once more, my sister."

"Strangely, I'm happy to be here," Cherry replied, "I'm happy that this feels like home."

"Don't get too mushy and cosy," Carl said, "you two still have a lot to do and make up for."

"Aren't I supposed to live in the sanctuary?" Sherry asked, confusion racing over her expression.

"Not necessary," Rilea said, resting her hands on her daughter's shoulders, "if this can be finished today and ended in every way, both of you … your Aunt and yourself can live out here with us indefinitely."

"That would be amazing," Sherry said, "instead of looking at the sky through the open ceiling in the sanctuary, it would be nice to see it while walking outside."

"To accomplish that, Cherry needs to come with me to assess what can be done to help those outside," Rilea said, "follow me … Carl, please come with us; you are Cherry's protection detail at the moment, aren't you."

"Yes, I am," Carl smiled, turning and following the trio, "I'd be happy to be of any assistance."