The breakfast was a lot livelier than Aidan remembered it being for a long, long time. But it had been a long time since it had been more people than him and Lucas.

Kress still offered only a stray comment here and there, but Lucas and Mrei kept the conversation going, and much to Aidan's amusement the topic was some television show. Both children had strong opinions about the characters and the plot and everything.

Since he probably wouldn't even get a word in to that, he pulled his stool next to Kress once all the food - and kids could eat a lot - was done and laid out on the table. "What do you think of all this?" he asked.

"About what?"

"About going to the shrine of the Sky spirits. About being the messenger."

"I still think this whole quest for a land that only appears in myths is a wild goose chase." The Kingdom of Dawn wasn't some backwater country where people couldn't even read. The written history extended back for hundreds of years, most of it archived for anyone interested to read. Was there even one reliable record about that place? Not that he knew of.

Aidan smiled. "But you're going anyway?"

"Lucas has already decided for me. Apparently I can't say no. And..."

"And?" Aidan asked.

Kress just shook his head. He didn't really believe it would be a gift from the spirits like Aidan and Lucas thought, but he couldn't deny these strange powers he had. It was small things, like short-circuiting electrical devices, but it was undeniably real. Some small part of him wanted to ask that if he gathered the remaining pendants, would he be set free? Could he go back to the child he had been before his captivity? A bigger part argued that he had read too many fantasy novels.

The rest of the meal was spent with Lucas and Mrei taking care of the conversation, barely offering the other two a chance to join in. Afterwards Lucas collected the dishes and started washing them, Mrei eager to help - although it again took her a moment to figure out what to do.

"I gathered you some clothes more suitable for the traveling on the couch. See if they fit," Aidan told them. "I'll check out if I can arrange for some transport for you." Being the spiritual leader of this town, he couldn't go with the kids just because he wanted to, but he'd feel better if someone he knew - some adult - took them to Rolan. Once they got there, his brother-in-law would take good care of them.

He didn't get more than a few steps down the road before he ran into Ena.

"Hey, just the man I was looking for!" Ena exclaimed, pleased. "How have you been, Aidan?"

It took Aidan a moment to recognize her. "Ena? When did you get back?"

"Yesterday evening. I'm just visiting, though. I drive a cargo truck for living."

Aidan smiled. That was certainly a job fit for her. "I see."

"Your son had quite an adventure of his own, If Kavo - that would be this boy here," she gestured to the cerro walking by her side, "-hadn't noticed him, he and his friends would probably still be stuck in Ravona."

Aidan faintly remembered Kavo too. The cerro had been just a pup when Ena had left, and like any child Lucas had been unable to stay away from the bundle of fur. "Ravona? How did they end up there?" No passenger traffic went through there.

Ena looked surprised. "Didn't he tell you?"

"No. What was he supposed to tell me?"

"I don't know. He didn't want to tell me, but he promised he'd tell you everything."

"Hmm." Aidan made a mental note to ask Lucas once he got back. They had never kept secrets, and he didn't want them to start now just because the boy was reaching adolescence. "I'll ask him. But since you're driving a truck now, could I ask a huge favor?"

"What kind of favor?"

"Lucas and his friends need to go to Mereia. His uncle Rolan lives there."

"That's not exactly along my route. Is it important?" She had practically grown up with Aidan - he wouldn't ask for this unless he had a reason.

"Yes, very important."

"Now you got me curious," she grinned.

Aidan lowered his voice, "I believe the messenger may have appeared."

Ena gave him another curious look. "Lucas? Wouldn't that have been evident when he was five?" That was the age when all children were taken to the shrine of the spirits for the ritual. This far none had been marked.

"Kress. I don't know why or how, but he bears the mark."

Eh...it was true she hadn't seen Kress without a shirt - what reason would she have had to peek on teenagers? - but..."An outsider? Are you sure?"

"As sure as I can be. He thinks it's a tattoo, but how could it be? Only our tribe knows exactly what it looks like."

"Well..." Ena started. "There is always the possibility that there was some problem in the refinery and the load I was supposed to take back was delayed, right? In case my boss asks. Just a few days' delay. Nothing serious."

Aidan smiled. That was easy to arrange. He'd just talk with a few people. "I agree, entirely possible."

She looked at her watch. "I'll be leaving at noon. Drop by at my parents' place to chat once you've interrogated your son and gotten the trio ready for another road trip. We have a lot to catch up on."

Aidan nodded. "Thank you."

~*~*~

Meanwhile, Mrei and Kress were sorting through the offered clothes - Kress in the living room and Mrei upstairs. Lucas dashed between the two locations whenever Mrei called or shooed him out.

Kress settled for light brown outdoors pants, the shirt he had worn the evening before, lace-up boots and a long hooded coat that looked like it would be waterproof. At Lucas's insistence he also tried the rest of the clothes and the ones that fit decently were stuffed into a large bag.

Mrei was clearly enjoying the selection a lot more and probably tried every possible combination. She had never had clothes quite like this. Lucas had no idea what to say to her questions how she looked, so he said that she looked great to every single piece.

Finally she picked blue pants with green patches on knees - Lucas's words that he could certainly find a little less worn ones fell to deaf ears, as she thought the patches were cute -, a shirt embroidered at sleeves just like Aidan's, a dark turquoise, form-fitting vest that was laced at front and striped blue and gray sneakers. She would have liked to keep her own shoes, but Kress told her that she couldn't walk a mile in them.

But that little set-back was quickly forgotten as Lucas fitted a colorful shawl around her head and another - this one with tiny metal discs that made a faint rattling sound when she shook it - at her hips.

"All set?" Aidan asked as Mrei bounced down the stairs with extra spring in her steps just to hear the shawl at her hips make its funny noise. He had been able to prepare some food for the trip while the kids changed and packed their clothes.

"Yep," Lucas answered for all three.

"Good." Aidan placed the food containers into their bags. Each of the boys had one, and Lucas was carrying also Mrei's clothes. After one look at Kress he also gave him Lucas's spare cap. Better not ask for sunstroke if you could avoid it. Then he took his son by the arm and firmly led him upstairs. "I believe you had something to tell me. You two wait here."

He closed the door before speaking, "I just met Ena. What happened after you sneaked away? It seems that it wasn't just a round-trip to Delavia by train."

Lucas sighed. He knew he would have had to tell before they departed anyway, but he really didn't want to.

"Lucas, it can't be that bad," Aidan laid a hand on his shoulder and leaned down to look him in the eye. "I'm your father. No matter what happened, I will still love you."

"I went to Delavia by train..."

"And? How did you meet the princess?"

"Wha- How did you know Mrei is a princess?"

"We had a little talk last night when she couldn't sleep."

"I didn't know she was a princess. There was some kind of festival and I met her there. Then soldiers found us and said I had kidnapped her." He paused. "I was locked up and there I met Kress. Mrei and some woman she called Tamaris helped us escape. We stowed away into Ravona on a cargo carrier."

Aidan took a moment to process that information. "So the king's soldiers are looking also for you and Kress as fugitives?"

"I guess so."

"Did you say where you're from?"

"Nope."

"That's good." As long as they didn't know where to search, a territory with towns scattered all over the land should prove too much of a challenge for any pursuers. "Just be careful. If you see any soldiers, hide."

"Will do. Was that all?"

"Lucas...We will have to return Mrei eventually. Don't get too attached."

"But..."

"I know we owe her. But she is a princess. More than you or Kress, it's her that the king wants back." Aidan sighed. "If you have to, just hand her over."

"I can't. We promised to find the land beyond the clouds together."

"You will never find it if you're thrown into prison for the rest of your life. I don't want to lose you."

Aidan's gaze was suddenly drawn to the closed door. Did he hear something?

Mrei stumbled and fell as the door she had been pushing her ear against to hear the conversation inside was suddenly pulled open.

Aidan caught her and placed her back on her feet. "Mrei...How much did you hear?"

"I...I..." she sniffed, tears overflowing. "Don't send me back home! Please! I'll hide really good too. I promise."

"Now, now, don't cry," Aidan tried to console her.

"I...I have to find a cure for daddy. If I just go with Lucas, I'll find it. So please..."

He really had a weak spot for children's tears. "Alright, alright. We'll try our best to keep you hidden too. But if you get caught, promise me you'll go home quietly and do your best that they won't take Kress or Lucas. Okay?"

Mrei quickly nodded, wiping her nose on her sleeve. "I promise."

"Not a word to anyone else that Mrei is a princess, got it?" he addressed both children. "The more people know, the more likely it gets that you're found."

Both nodded again.

"One more thing." Aidan retrieved a pair of scissors from the set of drawers in the room. "Let's cut your hair a little. That will make it harder for anyone to recognize you."