The next day the same people marched back to Strant.
The unconscious warriors that the Wishmakers had somehow healed had been laid in the wagon that Teransir and Elen had arrived in.
Both insisted that they felt fine and wanted to walk back.
In the middle of what was now Alena’s Legion was the confusion of black robed mages plodding along,
following meekly and needing to be reminded gently every so often to keep walking.
It had been decided to accommodate them all in the old barracks until Hirn was ready to take them back to Artez.
He would be taking some Strant people with him too. It wasn’t worth the risk that some might still retain
the dark taint back on the world that he still called home. He hoped that Sil would want to go with him,
but knew that she might have been drawn to do something else.
Though his heart still longed for her to be at his side, he was able to accept that she could have somewhere else to be.
He smiled to himself at the thought of her, looking forward to seeing her again.
Hirn also wanted some time to try and help the Artez folk come to some sort of acceptance of having a clean slate.
Many people would pay for the chance, but it was a different matter altogether to awaken to know nothing at all
of who you were.
It was no hardship to Alena’s people to camp outside of Strant. They were used to it.
When Hirn had vacated the barracks they would be able to reclaim it.
It wasn’t as if anyone had even thought of it until the Northern Edge group had taken it over.
Terin rode at the head of the parade, with Gant and Alena.
He was concerned that Gerard might see the black robes, and may worry about what was heading his way.
Riani was convinced that Sil was already in the castle waiting for them and would have told him everything,
but Terin didn’t want to risk any chance of misunderstandings at this stage. Everything had gone so well.
Gant found himself grateful that he was marching back with most of his troops in the same condition as they had left.
The four in the wagon, would need time to recover. He’d been assured by the healers that in a few months they would be fit again.
He silently thanked the strangely dressed Wishmakers for whatever they had done.
As he did, he heard the now familiar rattling of the Wishmakers as they seemed to appear next to him as if from nowhere.
Wishmaker Ern beckoned to him. Gant broke off from the others and dismounted his horse to see what they wanted.
“Brother, we heard your wish.” Ern said in a whisper.
“ We also wish. When all is done, you will see. And you will embrace your way with us.
We look forward to welcoming you. You‘ll know when to come.”
They left him standing there, holding the reins of his horse and looking as perplexed as he had always been about them.
He couldn’t see himself clad in the fur cloaks and hand made leather patch worked garb, and had serious doubts about
whether he could ever shake one of those rattles without laughing.
Still, he couldn’t deny it, he was drawn to them. He shrugged and rode on to catch up with Alena and Terin.
All in its own time.
Soon they were in sight of the city of Strant, and home for most of them. Finn’s legion was forming a guard of
honour for all of them. Riani turned to Jan, “This will be the stuff of some good songs perhaps.”
Jan thought for a moment.
“Nobody died. I think usually somebody has to die in a battle like that to make a good song. ”
Riani shook her head and smiled.
“I’d rather have it this way. “
“Me too” said Jan, Then he remembered that someone had died.
Mat’s life had been the early payment for this victory.
They rode through the gates to the cheering of people who couldn’t possibly know what they were cheering for,
but could feel that it was something very wonderful.