The Head Man's eyes grew wide the moment he saw us. "You made it back."

"Indeed they did," Mam agreed. "You've been preparing a celebration, just in case, haven't you?"

"Yes," said the Head Man, opening a drawer in his desk and pulling out a piece of paper. "I've got the plans all figured out. There's only a little tweaking that needs to be done before we'll be ready to go."

We sat in chairs in front of him, while he sat behind a shiny, official-looking desk, stealing curious glances at us every few moments. He hadn't yet asked how we'd beat the Magician. I had a feeling he wasn't going to at all. Perhaps he didn't want to know how we'd done it, other than that we had. Perhaps he had some nervous suspicions about our methods. Or perhaps he didn't care at all. Either way, I was glad not to have to go through the story again.

After writing a long sentence on the piece of paper he held, the Head Man looked up at us and smiled. It didn't look genuine.

"So," he said, "I'm glad that you've made it back safe and sound. You're the first to do so, you know."

"We know," Reed said.

There was a touch of annoyance in his voice. It brimmed on disrespect. Lark subtly reached out and brushed his hand; their eyes met, and a conversation was exchanged in the glance that followed.

"Of course," the Head Man continued, "you'll be considered heroes of the town from now on. You'll be respected. Children will idolize you. Maybe someday we'll teach the next generation about you in school." He gave us a warning look. "Use your new fame wisely. I know you're all just children, and it may be tempting to try to abuse this newfound power—but if you do, there will be consequences. Don't start thinking rules don't apply to you."

"Of course not," said Lark with a smile. "We'll be model citizens."

He smiled at her and nodded. "I appreciate it. Any questions?"

"When can we see our family?" Bran asked. "I know some of us are excited to get back home again, since there are so many people we haven't seen."

"As soon as you wish. You can go now, if you like."

Immediately, as though we'd all had the same thought at once, we stood up to leave.

"We'll be celebrating your return at dinner tonight." The Head Man stood and crossed the room to open the door for us. "It'll last long into the night, and the party will revolve around you, so if you need to rest for a bit, go ahead. After what you've done, I'm sure no one will begrudge you a nap."

We began filing out the door.

"Reed?"

Reed turned around slowly, and we watched as the Head Man gave him a sickly sweet fatherly smile. "I'd like to talk with you. It's been a while since I've been able to have a good conversation with you."

Reed raised his eyebrows, and for a moment, I wondered if he was going to turn on his heel and walk away. Instead, with derision, he said, "Right. Because you sent me off on a quest."

"Yes. I'm glad you're back."

The Head Man moved forward as it to embrace Reed, but Reed slipped past him and into the study. "I'd love to talk."

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Bran asked Lark as we emerged from the town hall.

She shrugged. "Probably."

"Just probably?" I frowned. "Why wouldn't he be okay? That's his father."

"I dunno," Bran admitted. "He just... I felt like there was some tension back there."

"There was," said Mam. "I thought Reed was rather rude to his father, especially after not having seen him in so long."

Lark sighed. "There's a bit of complicated history behind them."

"I'm not sure that's your business to tell us." Mam frowned sternly. "Even if they have had difficulties in the past, I'm sure the Head Man should still be able to expect a higher level of respect from Reed."

"I'm not sure how much he deserves it."

"Hmm," said Mam. She put her hand at the small of my back and steered me away from Lark and Bran, towards our house. "I suppose you're entitled to your opinion."

When we were a little ways away from Lark and Bran, I asked, "Where are we going? Why did we leave so fast?"

Mam sighed. "Fyra, I'm sorry, but your friends are... interesting characters. I always thought that Bran boy was trouble. Lark, though—I have to admit, I expected better from her. I would never have pegged her as a gossip."

"A gossip?" I said, eyebrows raised. "Lark's not a gossip, Mam. She's Reed's friend. She likely knows more about his relationship with his father than-"

"Even so, no matter what she knows, she had no business talking about the Head Man that way." Mam sniffed. "She had no business telling us about his private matters."

"She was defending her friend."

"Reed? The boy was openly disrespectful to his father. There was nothing to defend."

"But-"

"But nothing." A sigh burst through Mam's lips, and she curled into herself. "I'm sorry, Fyra. The last thing I want is to taint your return with uncharitable descriptions of your friends. I'd like to be done with this argument. Sometimes respect should be expected from children by parents."

I resisted the urge to match Mam's sigh with one of my own. This was how she almost always ended arguments—saying they were done and then tacking on a parting remark like a razor-sharp thorn. I hated it. But she was right. Somehow, when I thought about it, she always seemed to be right.

"Let's go home," said Mam. "We'll have to fix up your bed—when you left, I moved it up against the wall so that I'd have more room. I didn't anticipate needing to take it down for a long time." She smiled and put an arm around my shoulders for a short hug. "It just goes to show: hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and you'll never go wrong."

"You thought I wasn't coming back?"

She shook her head. "Don't be silly, Fyra. I knew you'd come back someday. I just didn't know when. It could take weeks or months, or even years."

"Ah," I said. "I see."

We walked down the street slowly. I took in the houses: the improvements that had been added to them, the renovations that could now take place since they weren't in danger of being shaken to pieces in every magic storm, the way everything was spotless.

I'd come home, but it didn't feel quite like home. It felt different. It had certainly changed since I'd last been here, but not enough for me to expect it to feel so foreign. Perhaps I was the one who had truly changed. While I'd been gone, I'd constantly yearned to come back, where everything made sense and was simple. Now that I was back... I couldn't help but remember the simplicity of questing—the way everything fell into place bit by bit—the lack of restrictions, and extra social interactions, and being told off by Mam.

No.

No, I couldn't think that. That wasn't right. Mam loved me, and I loved Mam, and of course I was happy to be back. How could I not be? This was my home. It always had been, and it always would be.

Yet I couldn't forget how Leith had said, "You'll always have a place here."

I couldn't forget Captain Rayan's wide smile, or Sharla's rock creatures, or the flying machine Erenia and Sil had yet to perfect. I couldn't forget flying, deathbirds at my side, and wind in my hair, and the flawless blue of the sky just beyond my fingertips.

Was I supposed to simply forget the journey now that I was back? Would I be able to live a normal life after having seen the wonders of the world? I didn't know.

Mam nudged me gently. "Penny for your thoughts."

"I..."

I hesitated. Would Mam understand how I felt? She'd been the perfect town citizen for as long as I could remember. None of the adults ever told stories about her wild childhood, and really, I wasn't sure if this was because they didn't want to tarnish her name now, or because she'd never had one to begin with. Had she ever felt wanderlust and the need for adventure? Had she ever looked up at the stars and wished to explore the world?

Reluctantly, sadly, I decided to play it safe. "I'm thinking about the foods that might be at the party tonight. I've missed Aunt Marla's apple pie."

Mam's voice dropped into a conspiratorial tone. "She's been gathering the makings for it for a few days now, in the hope that you'd return."

I smiled, and it was genuine. Aunt Marla's pie was lovely, and Aunt Marla was lovely. She was a quiet woman—not part of the community in the way Mam was—and yet I didn't know what I'd do without her.

"So," said Mam, "how tired are you? Do you want to take a nap before the celebration? Or would you like to sit and talk about your journey?" She studied me appraisingly. "You're getting older now, you know. Soon you'll be a woman. I hadn't realized we were coming to that so quickly."

"Time goes fast," I said.

"Indeed it does," Mam agreed. "So? Yea or nay to the nap?"

"Yea." I grinned again and turned to give her a hug before following her into the house. "I love you, Mam."

"I love you too, Fyra." She guided me past the door to my room and into her own bedroom. "You can sleep in my bed, and we can work on getting yours set up when you wake. I'll have lunch ready by then, too. Is there anything in particular you'd like?"

"Bacon," I said, "if we have it."

"Bacon it is then." She pulled the door mostly closed, and I could see her eye through the crack. "Sleep well."

"I will."

Vote if you hope Reed doesn't get too much of a brow-beating from the Head Man!