“We can be ready for them,” chirped Antello from the classroom. “Maybe we can get them as they come in.”

Syman turned and shook his head. “Antello,” lectured Syman, “we would be lucky to fight an even number of those bandits and survive. We’ve had good training, but we have no experience killing people. Those raiders sounded like it was a normal day for them. We need to get Lyra to Alamar. We swore we would do so, even if Rhodella never heard us. I intend to honor my pledge and we shall not do that waiting here for more raiders. Get down to the kitchen and fix us packs for the road. I’m going to scour this place for any useable weapons while Lyra gets her brother’s sword.”

Lyra gently laid her mother back on the floor and nodded. “Syman is right,” she conceded. “Mother’s plan makes sense even if Alamar is hundreds of leagues from here. We have to get someone to help us and Uncle Temiker is a powerful mage. Besides, Mother said he is in danger too. We can tell the villagers about this mess. I know they will provide decent funerals for everyone.”

“But the raiders were going to the village,” cautioned Syman. “We should try to avoid it.”

“I may leave this castle without making my Mother ready for a funeral, but I will not allow her to lie here and rot,” declared Lyra. “We will visit the village before we head off to Alamar. Antello, see if there are any horses left behind while you are downstairs. If the raiders didn’t steal them all, pick three of the best for our journey.”

“I need to get this crud off me before we leave,” announced Syman. “Who knows when the next bath will be.”

Lyra winced as she looked at her two friends and imagined what she looked like herself. “Okay,” she agreed, “but we need to move quickly. I want a long head start on those raiders when they return.”

Lyra stepped over the body of Master Caulder and headed for her mother’s room. Swiftly, she threw herself to the floor and wriggled under the bed for her mother’s chest.