“Hey,” he says reassuringly, “We’ve been through some tough situations before. I’m sure everything will turn out alright.”

“Besides,” offers Delia, “Aleya will be with him.” That brings a smile to Tersa’s face. “How much of a risk will he take with her along?”

“You have a point,” she admits.

At the mention of Aleya, they all turn to watch them sitting on Jiron’s blanket together. Her head is lying on his shoulder and his arm holds her tight.

“I made her promise that if they were to marry to wait until they returned to The Ranch so I could be her maid of honor,” she tells them.

“I doubt if that boy will ever ask her,” Delia says. “It took Cassie to work on Tinok before he even thought to ask.” Sadness comes over them at the mention of Cassie and Tinok. Both lives have taken a definite turn for the worse. Cassie died and Tinok is facing an unknown fate at the dark of the moon.

“We’ll see,” James says. Then to change the subject he asks Delia, “What do you plan to do once you’re back?”

“Start up with trading again,” she says. “I doubt if any trader over in Cardri knows half as much as I do about what it’s like over here and what is needed. My wagons should still be with Roland and hopefully the horses too. I told him he could sell them if he needed to.”

“I doubt very seriously if he’ll need money that badly,” replies James. When he left, a bag of gems still remained in the chest sitting in his room from the last expedition to the cave under the Merchant’s Pass.

“We’ll see,” she says. “May have to hire more guards, though.” She then nods over to where the seven recruits are congregating around the fire. “They may not be enough in an emergency.”

Giving out with a yawn, James stands up and says, “This might be a good time to turn in. We still have a long way to go.” He then turns and makes his way over to his bedroll. On his way he lets everyone know it’s time for sleep. Lying down, he hears the sound of the rest beginning to turn in.