Rath wove in and out of the back alleys with practiced ease, his black hair and black clothes hiding him in the shadows, his steps completely silent. Char, holding Iris' hand, followed with the same level of skill. She felt like she was far too loud, like she was going to give them away, but neither of them said anything to her about it. Their twisted path led them ever deeper into the city, ever closer to the castle wall. Iris' heart was pounding uncontrollably and her senses were on high alert, waiting for Micah's searching magic. He knew she was here. It was only a matter of time before he found her.

"Iris?"

She nearly jumped out of her skin when a familiar voice called her name. The three stopped in their tracks, and she turned toward the voice that she never thought she'd hear again.

"It really is you," Ginger gasped, her green eyes wide with surprise. She dropped the bucket in her hand and raced toward Iris, throwing her arms around her. Iris was too shocked to move, staring past the curly mess of red hair below her chin at the tall, gangly red-headed boy picking up the abandoned bucket, the cuffs of his pants soaked in the water trickling across the cobblestones.

"How...how are you...?" Iris gasped, wrapping her arms around Ginger's slight frame.

"We thought you were dead," Ginger said, squeezing her tighter.

"I thought you were dead!" Iris replied. Ginger finally released her, and Iris ran to Fred, engulfing him in a hug. "How are you alive? What happened?"

"Father John was a mage, that's what happened," Fred replied, flashing her a grin that crinkled his freckled cheeks as he stepped back from her.

"What?" Iris asked in disbelief.

"It's true," Ginger volunteered. "During the battle, he gave us a note and all the money he had, and then he teleported us here."

"But - so Kayla...?"

"She's inside. Come on!" Ginger took Iris' hand and tugged at her, but Fred's smile vanished as he saw the two men behind her.

"Oh, sorry," Iris said, pulling her hand free from Ginger. "These are my friends, Char...lie and Roger." She stuttered a little after Char's name, remembering at the last second to use their human monikers. "And this is Fred and Ginger."

"You look familiar," Fred said, his green eyes narrowing suspiciously as he searched Char's face.

"I visited Little Rest right before the war started," Char replied.

"Fred? Ginger? Are you okay?" called an unknown voice from the building behind them.

"Yes," Ginger called back. "Come on. You're just in time for dinner."

Iris allowed Ginger to drag her along this time, and though Fred's furrowed brow indicated he wasn't sure about Char or Rath yet, he turned his back on them and followed Iris inside. Char and Rath brought up the rear. Rath's blue eyes were alight with the promise of a proper meal.

"Father Peter, this is Iris," Ginger said to the clergyman just inside the door. He was heavier than Father John, with a head of thinning gray hair and a kind smile.

"Iris. Father John talked about you quite a lot in his letters," Father Peter said, taking her hand in both of his. "I'm so glad to finally meet you."

"I'm glad to meet you, too," she said genuinely. "Have you been taking care of Fred, Ginger, and Kayla?"

He chuckled. "And a whole host of other children, I'm afraid. It has been difficult without Father John helping to take one or two off my hands here or there, but we make do. And who are these young men?"

"Charlie and Roger," Iris said, stepping away from Father Peter to introduce them. She realized she should probably provide further explanation about them, but she didn't know what to say. They nodded politely, and Ginger slipped out of the enclosed space of the storage room through another door. Fred stayed put, his hands jammed into his pockets as he regarded Char and Rath moodily.

"So, what happened to you, Iris?" he asked, his green eyes leaving his study of Char and Rath momentarily to flick to her face.

"It's...kind of a long story," she said hesitantly.

"You said Father John teleported you here. Is he around?" Char asked.

Fred frowned and shook his head. "He said he was staying back to wait for Iris. Then we heard it was sacked, and we figured they were both dead."

"In here," Ginger said, returning through the door, leading a little girl by the hand. Iris would know those big blue eyes anywhere, although she'd never seen them so despondent before.

"Kayla," she called. The little girl looked up at her, and her eyes went wide with surprise. A big, beautiful smile broke out across her face.

"Iris!" she squealed, running into Iris' arms. Iris scooped her up and hugged her tightly, tears escaping her eyes to wet Kayla's long blonde hair as Kayla hugged her neck.

"Well, what are we all standing around for?" Father Peter asked. "Let's get inside before the food gets cold."

The door led to the vestry, and past that were the stairs descending into the basement. It was a lot bigger than the church basement in Little Rest, which was barely more than a cellar. This basement looked to be the same circumference as the building Iris saw from the alley, and it needed to be that big to hold all the children. They were everywhere, all shapes, ages, and sizes. A group of older girls were setting a series of long tables along the left side of the room while the older boys broke up the younger children at play in the center of the room and directed them to wash their hands for dinner. Several teenage girls emerged from a door at the other end of the basement with steaming pots and plates of food, and the boys were hard pressed to keep the little ones from stampeding to the tables.

"We have our own food," Iris said hesitantly, shifting Kayla to one hip. "We don't want to impose-"

"No imposition!" Father Peter reassured her. "Come, come, have a seat."

Iris set Kayla in a chair and took her seat next to her. Fred quickly claimed the seat on Iris' other side, shooting a glare at Char and Rath in the process. Rath's blue eyes danced with amusement, but he kept his mouth shut and sat next to Char on Fred's other side. Ginger was busy helping to dish out food to everybody. Soup, bread, and water. Simple fare, but the soup was hot, the bread was fresh from the oven, and after a couple of days eating nothing but stale biscuits and dried meat, it was a refreshing change. Char had to stop Rath from diving in as soon as he received his portion.

"What?" Rath asked irritably.

"Father Peter has to pray first," Iris explained.

Rath slumped back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. Many of the children around the table wore very similar expressions, and Iris suppressed a giggle at Rath's expense. When all the food was served and all the children were seated, Father Peter stood up.

"We have some special guests this evening," he announced, smiling at Iris. "This is Iris. I know all of you have heard a lot about her from Fred, Ginger, and Kayla. And these are her friends, Charlie and Roger. I expect you all to give them a warm welcome."

"Yes, Father Peter," a chorus of voices replied.

"Now, everybody bow your heads, close your eyes, and fold your hands while we pray."

Iris did so, feeling a warmth settle in her chest from the familiar motions. She had struggled to pray over the past few weeks, struggled to understand why God would let any of this happen to her and those around her. But at this moment, she suddenly felt like she was home.

"Heavenly Father, we thank you for your many blessings. Sometimes they're hard to see, but now more than ever, we must believe that You have a plan, and You are working all things to our good. Bless our friends, new and old, and bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies. Amen."

"Amen," Iris repeated with the chorus of children.

"Can I eat now?" Rath whispered loudly.

Char rolled his eyes. "Yes, you can eat."

Iris had to remind Kayla several times throughout dinner to eat and not to talk. Kayla had stored up weeks of things to tell Iris, and she seemed determined to get it all out in the space of a few minutes. Iris didn't mind. Fred's expression relaxed throughout dinner, his face easing into a fond smile as he watched Kayla. Ginger, too, was smiling brightly, and Iris knew she was, too. It felt good. Smiling didn't come naturally to her lately.

"She's barely said anything since you left," Fred said when Kayla took a breath.

"But you're not leaving again, are you?" Kayla asked, her big blue eyes hopeful. "You're here to stay?"

Iris leaned toward her and brushed her blonde hair back from her face. "I wish I could, but there's something I have to do," she replied, fixing her smile in place.

"But you can't leave," Kayla protested, her smile vanishing in an instant. "You just can't."

"Kayla-"

"We need a place to spend the night," Rath interjected. Iris shook her head at him slightly, but Kayla had already latched onto that.

"You can sleep with me and Ginger, just like we used to!" she exclaimed, tugging on Iris' sleeve.

"No, Kayla, I can't," Iris said firmly.

"But why not? He just said-"

"Charlie and I can keep an eye on things," Rath continued. "And you've got your little trick. It'll be fine."

Iris pursed her lips together. She didn't want to risk bringing Micah here, but she wasn't about to discuss that in front of the children.

"So, how do you and Charlie know Iris?" Fred asked.

"Charlie met her in Little Rest," Rath said casually. "And I'm his brother, so he can't keep a secret from me. Especially his new lover."

Iris put her face in her hands.

"Lover?" Fred asked, dismayed.

"Did he give you a flower, like Darius?" Kayla asked excitedly.

"Hold on," Fred said firmly. "You're okay, right, Iris? These guys aren't taking advantage of you or anything, are they?"

"No, they aren't," she said emphatically, dropping her hands from her face.

"Has he kissed you?" Kayla continued, her blue eyes sparkling.

"Looks like you're done eating. I'll just get these dishes," Iris said brusquely, standing up and stacking Kayla's dishes on hers.

"You're blushing!"

"It's a bit hot in here with all these children packed into one room, that's all," Iris said dismissively. She headed toward the kitchen door, but Kayla was right on her heels, tugging at her skirt.

"Do you love him?" Kayla asked, drawing out the word 'love' far longer than was necessary.

"We're supposed to love everybody."

"Are you gonna marry him?"

Iris set the dishes in the sink and turned back to Kayla. "That is none of your business, young lady."

"He's very handsome."

A smile tugged at Iris' lips unbidden. "Yes, he is." She sighed and squatted down to get on Kayla's level. "I'm really happy to see you, too, Kayla, but I have to explain something. I can't stay. There is something very important I have to do, and I can't do it here, so I have to go again."

Kayla's smile faltered. "But you'll come back, won't you?"

Iris pulled her into a hug. "I don't know, Kayla. I don't know."

Kayla started sobbing, her little shoulders shaking from the effort, and Iris held her tightly, silent tears streaming down her own cheeks. She took a deep, shuddering breath, and then she noticed the partially open door leading to another set of stairs. Another exit. A strange calm settled over her, and she closed her eyes and squeezed Kayla's little frame.

"Kayla, before I go, can you promise me something?"

Kayla sniffled and nodded.

"Can you tell my friends that I'm helping with dishes?"

Kayla looked up at her in confusion. Iris wiped her face clean on her skirt.

"Can you do that for me, Kayla?"

Kayla nodded hesitantly. Iris kissed her on the forehead and straightened up.

"I love you, Kayla. Now, go on and tell them."

"I love you, too, Iris," Kayla whispered, hanging on to Iris' skirt.

"Go on," Iris said gently, prying Kayla's fingers loose and guiding her to the door. Her fingers lingered over Kayla's silky smooth hair for just a moment before she gave her a push. Then she turned and headed up the stairs, pulling the door closed behind her.