Helena had not slept well that night, in the end she had forced herself to take some of the foul sleeping concoction she made for Corrinus simply so she could rest.

The twin dragons were recovering now, under the guard of Zev and the sceptre, and even though the thought of those two beasts was enough to give anyone nightmares, they were not the cause of her distress.

Even Millicent, who looked in on her only to smirk and stare and whisper the names of who her next Elani victim would be until Helena agreed to help, was not the reason.

No, she was uneasy because there was something in the air. A sense of change in the Kingdom of Malinas. She didn't know quite what was going to happen, or when or where but she knew, with quiet and fearful certainty, that somehow, her Sorrel would be at the beginning of it all.

Helena blinked against a stream of light that came in through the tiny kitchen window where she was kept. She sighed, drummed her fingers anxiously on the tabletop, looked up to the window and whispered a name.

"Sorrel."

#

Sorrel folded her arms as Mariko Kint pulled a dirty blue scarf out of one of her coat's endless seeming pockets and handed it to Leif. The Lamya grinned at him when he pulled a face and said, "Tie it around one side of your 'ead. So it's covering one eye. That's it! Pull it down a bit so it covers up those star marks of yours too. Right!"

Leif sat before her on a rock outside the cave in Silence Gorge as all around him his warriors worked honing their weapons and cooking a final breakfast before they entered the Kingdom. He screwed up his face and seemed unconvinced. "So I look like a Lamya now?"

Mariko nodded, and ruffled a hand full of dust into his hair. "Just try to look a bit meaner, eh? No one'll know."

"What're you planning, Leif?" Sorrel asked, joining her brother. She was aware Leif and Mariko had made plans while she was away with Cloud but he would not tell her any more and all she knew was that he and Mariko were to enter the Kingdom first.

Leif nudged her and winked. "Look like a Lamya, do I?"

She snorted and tugged the scarf over his face. "Pah! Look like an idiot."

Leif grinned as he rearranged his disguise and reached for his staff. "Well, as long as this idea works," he said, "I don't care what I look like. Now Sorrel, you know what to do?"

She nodded and repeated what he had told her. "Wait with the others on the rubbish site just off the slave fields and stay out of sight until you and Mariko return."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Leif nodded, satisfied she understood what was going to happen. "Good. We'll leave soon. First, I must speak with my warriors. Now..."

He jumped up off the rock and went to stand out in the middle of the gorge where he could be seen, and he coughed loudly and waited until he had the complete attention of the Elani.

As they all stopped what they were doing to turn and look at him, Sorrel felt a great surge of pride for her brother and the great warrior he had become. If only Dad could see him!

She smiled, glanced at Cloud as he joined her on the rock and then listened to what Leif had to say.

Leif lowered his gaze and stared at the ground as if for inspiration. Then he looked at Sorrel and she nodded and smiled to say they were all listening and waiting.

"Today," he began, "the Elani will finally make their way back home. To where we belong – the Kingdom of Malinas! Just as the King's Poet intended."

The warriors cheered, but Leif raised a hand to hush them and quietly continued. "But we've waited long. Too long, perhaps. We could have made our move when we were strong, when we were with the help of our old warriors, my friends, my teachers.

"We left it until the Lamya attacked us, but then it's not the way of the Elani warrior to make the first strike and I believe that by waiting, we have done right by ourselves." He paused again and looked round at the Elani. He gazed at Sorrel especially, knowing her to be one of the ones who had wanted to attack the Lamya from years back and she lowered her gaze and her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

Then Leif smiled again. He turned first to Honovi. "Strong Honovi, a wise fighter. She used to be a dress maker before she became a warrior and, I hope she doesn't mind me saying this, but she makes weapons far better!"

Honovi smiled ruefully as the others laughed, she had never been the most delicate seamstress. Leif turned to Malin, a boy the same age as Sorrel and Cloud. "Our Malin, the little warrior. Do you know what Mariko said to me about you?"

Malin shook his head, looked at Mariko who groaned and turned away, as if not wanting people to know she had said something good about one of them, then turned back to Leif, puzzled.

"She said you were by far a better fighter than most young Lamya she's known. Didn't you, Mariko? A compliment from Mariko Kint no less!" Leif grinned.

"Leave it out, eh Leif?" Mariko muttered, turning from them and pretending to stare out into the distance.

"Kirin!" he continued. "It seems you've become somewhat of an expert with that short javelin of yours, you'll bring your brothers home in no time. Sweet Maemi, never in my life have I come across someone so determined to learn as you. I thank you for being an excellent student and an example to all of us."

"Get on with it!" Sorrel cried, grinning madly and giggling with Cloud.

Leif frowned at her and turned to Lachlan. "Lachlan, you are a fine warrior and I will proudly fight by your side. Jia, Synan, sir, you have both shown patience to all of us and have been there when we've become irritable or downright unbearable! Now... Saoirse."

Leif put his hand out to Saoirse's shoulder and looked at her shyly. In that moment, Sorrel knew her brother was smitten. Leif smiled and continued in a quieter voice. "I've not known you for long, but you have so much spirit! I think you're what they call a 'born survivor.'"

He turned to Sorrel. "Gaeshi Sarkany, Little Cloud, Sorrel. You three I trust to watch over one another, protect each other and help one another if you ever need it. Sorrel in particular, I hope you will look after the other two now you're a respectable warrior!"

She smiled and replied softly, "Thank you, Leif."

At the end of this speech, Mariko perked up. "Finished 'ave we?" she asked.

Leif sighed. "Mariko Kint... well!" She glared at him and he chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, I've finished. Sorrel, lead on to the rubbish site!"

She jumped up, her hand to her sword. "With pleasure," she said.