When they crested the last of the foothills, they could see the torch lights of Curander even though they were still three miles away. It was just a glowing smudge on the valley floor, but it was a welcomed sight. They'd been walking for over ten hours, only stopping for a midday meal and then a short evening rest. When they had passed the fork in the road that led to Harlow's farm, the sun was still well over the western horizon. Marin thought about asking to stay the night, but then realized the farmer wouldn't have even returned from market yet. So they pressed on. But now, as the first stars twinkled into view and with darkness falling fast, Marin regretted their haste.

The chirps of crickets and the occasional hoot from an owl accompanied their footsteps as they followed the now nearly invisible trail down the hill to reach the flat valley. The night air was warm. Spring would soon turn to summer. But without the moon, the road became harder and harder to navigate. Wagon wheel ruts and loose stones occasionally caused them to stumble, and they clasped each other's hands tightly.

"I feel like a pack of wolves will cross our path at any moment." Tilly said nervously.

"Wolves? Doubtful. Although, it's likely we'll run into a raccoon." Marin tried to sound brave, but it was eery walking through open fields in the dark without a torch. But now that they were in the valley, farms were everywhere. The stink of cattle and pigs announced their presence, even if the animals were sound asleep. Cottages emitted soft glows from their windows as people finished up their evening meals and readied themselves for bed.

To get to The Order, they walked along a path that cut between two fields and headed up the next slope. This way they avoided walking through Curander and running into any unsavory character who might loiter outside of the city's many taverns. 

When they were still about a quarter mile from the tall stone walls that surrounded The Order's compound, Marin stopped. "Tilly," he whispered. "I'm going to miss sleeping next to you tonight."

"Oh, Marin." She stroked his cheek. "We'll still find time for... this."

"Are you sure?" He knew he sounded pathetic.

Instead of answering, she stepped in and kissed him. It was a soft kiss, a light touch. But it sent a shiver down his spine.

"Okay, let's go," Marin said reluctantly. His feet were tired. The strap from his satchel was digging painfully into his shoulder. He needed to rest.

Soon, they reached the gates. Two torches were lit, one on either side of the wide entrance. Tilly kept walking, but Marin just leaned against the strong masonry.

"Come on," she said, waving her arm towards the archway.

"I'm not welcomed here anymore. I'll stay here and wait for morning." He slid down the wall, his knees bending until his bottom touched the grassy earth.

"No, you can't sleep here," she said, a slight whine in her voice.

But Marin knew he didn't have a choice. So, even though it was warm, he clutched his robes tighter around his shoulders, and tried to make himself comfortable.

Then, without further protest, Tilly left.

Marin felt the lonely pang of disappointment that she hadn't tried harder. Hadn't made more of a fuss. And he was just about to feel sorry for himself when he heard his father's voice say, "If you are going to camp outside the walls, at least take this pillow and blanket."

Marin looked up and saw that Tilly had gone to fetch Hobard. They were both standing in the gate.

"Father!" Marin jumped up, forgetting his aches and pains, and grabbed his father in a hug. The pillow and blanket Hobard had been holding fell to the ground.

"I'll see you in the morning," Tilly excused herself and faded into the shadows beyond the walls.

"Goodnight," Marin called after her, even though she had disappeared. He then let go of his father and stepped back.

Hobard placed both of his hands on Marin's shoulders and studied his son's face. "I missed you. Tilly told me what happened. I knew you went to stay with Hobson, and that at least gave my heart some happiness."

"They didn't let me say goodbye." Marin could feel his throat tighten. "Abbot Osbert had Edwin gather my belongings for me. They practically threw me out, as if I was some... criminal. Which, I guess they think I am."

"I know. It's not your fault how you left."

"I told Tilly to tell you goodbye."

"And she did."

Marin thought he saw tears forming in his father's eyes, but in the dark it was hard to tell. He could feel his own eyes become teary. His father squeezed his shoulders one more time for emphasis and then leaned against the wall and sat down next to where Marin had been. He let out a soft grunt as his knees bent and he made it to the ground.

Marin was well aware of his father's joint pains, and he hoped he had continued to use the ointment that he had made for him. It was a special recipe that Marin had concocted with equal amounts of radish, bishop wort, garlic, wormwood, helenium, and hemlock. The herbs and roots had to be pounded and boiled in a brew made from celandine and red nettle, and kept in a brass pot for a fortnight before being strained through a linen cloth. It was the only thing that gave his father any relief. And Marin was the only medic with the skill and magic to make it.

He suddenly felt a wave of guilt for leaving his father behind. A good son would have at least said goodbye in person and made sure his elderly father had what he needed. Really, he should have asked his father if he wanted to come with him. Of course Hobard would have wanted the chance to see his family. To meet baby Margaret. All Marin felt was doubt over every decision he had made, starting with his foolish willingness to follow Blanche up to Jocelyn's room at night.

"I don't know what to do," Marin admitted, plopping down next to his father and feeling overwhelmed by a sense of loss. A lack of direction.

"You came back." Hobard said, patting Marin's knee.

"I couldn't stay. As much as I wanted to, that place is no longer home."

Hobard nodded, understanding what had happened without Marin having to say anything. Marin figured that his father would have warned him about Aldric, and other ghosts from his past, if he'd spoken to him before leaving. His father was wise about these things. Another reason he should have waited to say goodbye to his father in person, instead of leaving with such haste.

"How was the farm?" Hobard asked.

"Great. You'd be so proud of how Hobson is running things. And Milo and Mathilda–they have gotten so big. Oh, and Margaret. I can't wait for you to meet her. She is really something!"

"We should visit together someday soon." Hobard said, causing another jolt of guilt in Marin's chest. "And, I'm glad you came back. You need to fight for what is yours by right."

"By right? By right I should be in the convent," Marin scoffed.

"That's nonsense, and you know it. Besides, you've earned your skills as a medic."

Marin didn't respond right away. Hobard moved his hand off of Marin's knee and draped his arm around his son's shoulders, and that's how they sat for several long minutes. Marin wanted to confess to his father about Tilly, to tell him everything, to unburden all of his churning and conflicting emotions, but then thought better of it. His one goal should be to clear his name. He had the rest of his life to figure out his future, whether it be with The Order, or with Tilly, or something else.

Finally, Marin spoke. "Tilly says she has a plan. She said she would go with me to speak to the Abbot."

"Yes, she told me her ideas before she left to find you. I think that Abbot Osbert will listen to her."

"But what if he doesn't?" It was what Marin feared most. And also what was most likely to happen.

"We can only control what we can control." Hobard said solemnly.

Marin turned to look at his father, frail and hunched over next to him. "You should go to bed, father. It's getting late."

"I'm not leaving you out here all by yourself." Hobard cocked at eye at his son. His tone holding an edge of finality.

"But, father..."

"No, I won't hear of it." Hobard placed the pillow between their heads and then picked up the blanket and spread it out so it covered the knees of both men. "I'm just so glad you're back here with me."

Without arguing, Marin rested his head against his father and closed his eyes to fall asleep.