[Orual]

It was past dawn when Anson woke up, and the morning light was streaming in through the tall windows across the room from his bed. He yawned and stretched, still feeling a little achy but refreshed. He had eventually gone to sleep, and after a while had slept soundly, though he tossed and turned for a while.

He got out of bed and dressed, taking his time, reluctant to leave this place. Marsilion, Andunériel, Luin, they all seemed so happy to be here. He hated to ask them to leave. And Peony...she wouldn't want to leave. She was young, and this was a grand adventure for her. This was the part that she had read about in stories; sleeping in the palaces, in the company of elves. Nobody liked to hear about almost three weeks of journey, sleeping on hard rocks.

But they had to go, and it had to be today. He would let them all wake up, though, and Peony would want to look around a little while. Marsilion and Andunériel and Luin would want to say hello to their friends and family here.

Anson laughed harshly at himself. Maybe they just ought to stay here, the way he was trying to delay their departure. It had to be this way; they could not waste more time. As soon as they awoke, they would have breakfast and pack. Then they would leave.

There was no way out of it. And as much as the calls of the wolves made him uneasy, they had to go. The thought of their families starving made him more uneasy.

It would be today.