After bathing, Genie and Mario took themselves off to the dealer to finalize the purchase of the extra horses they needed.

At the same time, Ailin and Consuela herded all the children to a store that specialized in providing replacement travel clothing for pilgrims who had worn out some of their things while on the road. There was, however, a problem finding something small enough for the youngest. Finally, one of the sales clerks found two forgotten boxes of children's clothes under some stairs and the problem was solved.

When they got back to the inn, Ailin supervised their packing. She'd brought enough packs from the Mule's Tale to carry everything they would need for the trip.

Stavros wandered back in around 10:30 and led Mattie's team, Genie, and Mario to a weapons shop where they purchased appropriate knives.

Brigid was surprised that the weapons selected for them were of the highest quality and were among the most expensive in the shop, even after Mario had somehow managed to talk the shopkeeper's initial prices down by almost 40%. As they were leaving, after secreting their knives under their new travel clothes, Brigid noticed the shopkeeper shaking his head over and over as if wondering what had just happened. She found out later, after making a few queries, that it was unheard of for that shop to sell anything at more than a 20% discount.

Shortly before they arrived back at the inn, Genie stopped the group in the middle of the square in front of the cathedral and motioned for them to gather around her. "This is about as private a place to talk as we're going to find. What with all the groups of pilgrims standing around and gawking, we'll appear to be just one more."

She gestured in the direction of the cathedral and waved her hand a bit, as if explaining something.

Looking intently at Mattie and her companions Genie spoke in a serious tone. "You're not just average children. You're all from the same village. As best I can tell most of the others with you lost their families when that pestilence chewed its way through town almost three years ago, correct?"

They nodded, she nodded back and said, "What you're doing here, and why, will have to wait until Mimi or Ailin have sorted things out with you. That's all I have to say on that subject. The other topic I want to cover is that, since you've demonstrated your willingness and abilities so publicly, you're now officially designated as protectors of the other children."

Mario finished the thought, "You may feel free to center your efforts on Mattie, but I want her in the middle of the group while we're on the road anyway, her and the other younger kids, so you should have no problem protecting everyone."

He grinned at them. "Welcome to the consequences of standing out."

He looked around briefly, checking, mostly out of habit, to be sure that nobody was listening. "Now that that's settled, let's go get lunch. Genie and I still have that meeting at the bank at 2 p.m. Stavros and Consuela will back you up in watching over the others. I figure that Ailin will drop by occasionally, and definitely at bedtime. Other than that, you're in charge. Just don't get pushy about it.. However NONE of your charges are to leave the inn. You've all just escaped. We don't want to have to rescue someone again because they got bored and wandered off. There will be plenty to see and do once we get started in the morning."

What Mattie and company didn't realize was that 'Suela and Stav had filled in the twins and Jason as much as they were able before they blinked back to Metz that morning. Nor did Mattie's group realize that the reason Mario and Genie linked arms and held hands as they walked was because Genie was talking to Yoko.

"Oh? You don't say Yoko. That's very interesting. Priss just came by again and said that we need to take the shorter route on the local paths rather than looping south and following the main roads? There'll be heavy rain starting in about five to six weeks? OK.... We can do that. I just hope that the kids will be up to being in the saddle for 10 or 11 hours a day.

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"Oh yes, certainly your majesty. All we need to do is slather the sore ones with horse linament and they'll be fine. Right. And who's going to be living with their complaints for the next week and a half while they get adjusted to riding? Not to mention that the linament really smells awful and that it's a myth that it's good for humans!

"It's not your fault? Really? I thought that you had miraculous powers over the weather or some such. I'm sooo disappointed to hear that the rumor was untrue. Sob....

"Well... that's not only useful but interesting. Aunt Anna's family will be putting up everyone until we can get their final placements sorted out? That's real good of her! It'll be nice for a change to not have echoes rattling around in their home when we visit, not to mention that Alphonse will probably be drooling at the chance to dress so many new toys in his 'creations'. I just hope that I don't have to see any of them.

"No, seeing what he comes up with is something I can live without, and...oh? You'll have Jason oversee so they end up with colors that don't look like a drunk madman dressed them? Well then. That sounds fine. Good. Yes indeed. No, we don't need anything else. Ailin already brought everything we couldn't buy easily here.

"Sure. I'll give a shout if anything comes up, otherwise I'll expect to hear from you at the usual time after you finish breakfast tomorrow. Yes. Love you too. Bye."

She murmured to Mario in Japanese, "Good news. My aunt Anna and her family will be putting up all 13 of them for as long as needed. The bad news is that Priss has foreseen rather horrendous weather starting in about five or six weeks. We may have to push things if we want to get to The City before it hits."

He replied in the same language, "Umm. Right. Well, if worst comes to worst, we can have the smaller kids sit on blankets in front of the adults if they become too sore or sleepy enough that they're in danger of falling out of the saddle."

He ran his hand through his hair, exactly as Hiroshi Macklin did when stressed, then he laughed and finished in Italian. "Well, compared to the trip home after that bandit stabbed me, this is going to be nothing."

Genie pulled him closer and briefly laid her head on his shoulder. Remembering the day when he arrived more dead than alive still gave her the shakes.

He looked down at her tenderly. "Not to worry Love. After what Master Hiroshi did to me when he started working with me again, I'll never, EVER make another mistake like that!"

Brigid frowned slightly. The two of them had obviously not wanted her to understand the first part of what they'd discussed, but then had switched to Italian. They just as clearly had wanted her to hear that part, though she couldn't see why, unless.... Yes. For some reason Mario wanted her to know the name of the Master who had trained them. Most interesting.

She was prevented from further thoughts by their arrival at the inn. Absolutely wonderful scents were flowing out the door, and her mouth began to water. The meal last night and breakfast today had been the first decent food they'd had in over two years, and her stomach was telling her that it wanted more. Right now! It had made similar demands on many occasions in the past but always futilely. This time however it was going to get its way.

All six of the children hurried inside and joined the others who were waiting, semi-politely for the late-comers to join them.

After lunch 'Suela gathered them all in the upstairs hall, that being the only place that could hold all of them and was still private. "It's about Heidi. She's improved a great deal already. It's also been decided that my family is going to adopt her. She'll be my roommate from now on seeing as I have a spare bed in my room and we're almost the same age.

"Also.... My aunt and her family are going to let all of you live with them for now. Their home is pretty large, and you won't be crowded. That way you should be comfortable until we can find you permanent places to live that you approve of. Mimi told you that you were going to have homes where you'd be cared for and about, and that's exactly what's going to happen."

That last part 'Suela had said very firmly and somewhat louder than the rest. It had been her true feeling, and that, plus hearing that Heidi was already being adopted, reassured the others immensely. All of them, for various reasons, had been on the receiving end of multiple broken promises in the past few years. This time they'd already received part of what they'd been promised, which made them hopeful about the rest.

Hope is an incredibly wonderful thing, and, for the first time in what seemed like forever, they had reason to believe that what they hoped for really would come true.

For now though, they all were all excited about being introduced to "their" horses that afternoon, and to some practice riding, even though it would be only around the courtyard of the inn.