The sand fell from my fingers as I crouched over the entrance to the cave in wonder.

"This is how we have always made a new tunnel. Did you think they were naturally formed as such?" Mila asked.

I shook my head, standing up to admire the newly opened rock formation that had been an empty wall of boulders only days before. The witches that had gathered to magic a tunnel connecting the valley would cut the journey from months to days for travel between the two.

"What of the other tunnel?" I asked. We stood not far into the tree line of the northern part of the newly forming city Eriodus. Not far away, another group of witches was forming another entrance.

"It's going well, but the rest will have to wait until we find a suitable entrance near Eidelhein," another witch answered.

"We do not trust all of the elves and therefor the greater city of Eidelhein just yet," Mila added. "So we must ward it against ill-will, and as an added measure only Teyber and his lot will be able to lead someone through it."

I nodded, in complete agreement with the safety measures as I remembered my time in Eidelhein. "The elven children that choose not to stay will be able to come visit at least, and the ones that do stay can retrieve anything important they left behind."

"Wren," Gilly called behind me in a sing-song voice. I grimaced, spinning around.

"I know you've been carefully practicing my potions and brews," Gills grinned wickedly. "It's time for a test."

"Gilly-"

"And-" she cut me off, "Purda wants to sit in on it and add a few questions of her own."

"But there's still so much to do right now," I whined. "I don't know if I have time to be testing on magic."

"Nonsense," Mila said with mirth in her eyes. "You have a duty to learn the Mother's arts. Your year is nearly up, you must resume your studies. You are far behind in your learning compared to the other young witches."

"But I've been in the Wyldes!" I pleaded. "There was a war!"

"Come on, Wren," Gilly said gleefully, pulling me by the arm behind her. "You've put it off several times already, your old teacher would be heartbroken to think you haven't been studying. Oh, and there are some witches lined up to watch for when you've mastered what Purda and I have for you. You'll be able to take the aptitude test again and learn even more areas of study, isn't that wonderful?"

I sighed, resigning myself to it. "Yes, wonderful."

~

Puko settled onto my shoulder, the somber quiet of the cliffside kept even the rambunctious raven still. Standing before a small, newly formed mountain, I pulled my cloak tighter around my shoulders in the chilly spring air of the Unclaimed Wyldes.

'Are you sure he stirred?' Schula asked.

'He has, even now I sense movement within.' Spaulder answered.

Gathered around us were Eberon and a small entourage from Thanantholl including Thain, Diamid and a few of his select people, and Peyorla who brought only Aithne and her usual companions. The last but most key parts of the gathered fae were the few lords and ladies left from the Winter Court that resisted DuVarick and Bara Khalja, mostly by retreating into hiding.

We had located Nassir with Spaulder's help, but he had built himself into a thick mound of earth and none could reach him. His grief so deep that he went back to what I recognized as his imprisonment from Icehold. Self-inflicted.

Schula walked over to the rock face, placing her palms on it and laying her head against it. "Nassir, it's Schula. We miss you."

A stirring from inside gave me hope that he would come out. It took a while before the stirring changed tone, growing closer to our side of the mountain as he finally emerged. Filthy, wearing what he had worn at the battle and his beard had grown back into the nest it was in when I met him in Icehold.

"Nassir!" Schula ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him only a moment before I reached him as well, unsettling Puko from my shoulder in the process.

"Caw!"

Nassir didn't move much at first, but eventually he moved his arms to wrap around our backs in return. We stepped away, getting a good look at him as other fae began to approach.

"There are an awful lot of you here for an old fae waking up from a nap," Nassir looked around warily.

One of the Winter fae cleared her throat, walking forward with grace. "Nassir, do you remember me?"

He looked at her for a long moment, eyes tired but beginning to hold life again. "Vella."

She smiled warmly at him. "We had thought you dead. You can't know what a blessing it was to hear of your part in the freeing of Icehold."

Freeing. That's what all the remaining, hurting, grieving fae of the Winter Court were calling it.

"He was my heart and my responsibility." Nassir waved her off. "And now I want nothing more but to rest and forget."

My heart panged for him. I couldn't begin to understand what killing your own triquetram would do to a person.

"Lord Nassir." Another fae approached, holding something in a large white cloth. "We beseech you to return with us. The city needs you, the court needs you."

He unwrapped the cloth, revealing a giant sapphire formed into a crystal that reminded me more of ice than gemstone. The clearing burst into hushed whispers.

Nassir stared at it, then frowned up to the fae who had brought it over. "Take that thing away, I am not even worthy of returning to the great halls, let alone that."

"Nassir," Vella said softly. "We have all tried it in desperation. None of us were accepted by the lands."

I leaned over to whisper to Eberon. "What is that thing?"

"You know how we have a carved throne that can select the next ruler of the Autumn lands?"

I nodded, then it clicked. "Oh."

Varthus, the old tactician from Thanantholl leaned in to join us. "They should simply push his hand onto it."

I slapped a hand over my mouth to hold in the laughter as Eberon glared daggers at the old dryad.

"Have Schula try it, she is his lineage after all." Nassir's words cut through air and all other conversation stilled.

"He was no father of mine," Schula said coolly.

Nassir gave her a tired look, and Schula stuck her chin out stubbornly. "I'll touch it if you touch it first."

Nassir stared at her for a long time, then sighed. "You all waste your time. Bring it here."

The fae carried the grand stone to Nassir, who raised a palm and set it on the sapphire. The gemstone began to glow, and hushed gasps spread around the audience as we watched the light grow, forming an aura of light and snowflakes around it until both Nassir and the gemstone were consumed with it. By the time it faded away and Nassir removed his hand, the Winter fae present had all taken to kneeling.

Nassir looked down at them, a tiredness to him as he shook his head. "Stand up."

The fae began to stand, and Nassir turned his head as though he could see through this vast distance to Icehold itself. "Well, old friend, it seems I have a little more of your mess to clean up yet."

~

"Left. No, not that much left!" Schula squeeled.

"Can't I take this blindfold off?" I asked.

"No," she insisted. "This is my surprise. It's what I've been working on for months now and I want you two to be the first to see it."

Spaulder had taken his human shape again while he explored the budding city where none recognized him. It was easy enough to find a witch to help him as many were already settled in. Eriodus was expanding quickly, and Schula was pulling me through the streets while Spaulder, though blindfolded, had no trouble navigating without running into anything or tripping over the newly laid cobblestone path.

"Oof, that was a rock, wasn't it?" I asked.

"Shh. We're here! Take it off." Schula helped me pull away the cloth as Spaulder removed his own.

We stood in a large market square, facing a shop in a mixed design somewhere between Eidelhein and Thanantholl. The large windows displayed lush fabrics, and in the doorway stood an elven descendent that I vaguely recognized as he waved at us.

"What's all this?" I asked. 

"The Eriodus Pearl!" Schula exclaimed. "Soon to be the hottest dressmakers in town with my partner from Eidelhein. You remember Liam."

Then it clicked. "Liam!" 

I welcomed him with a handshake and he beamed at me with that face so like Liana's. Her brother the dressmaker from Eidelhein.

"Fitting," Spaulder mused. "Very good, little one."

Schula cackled, raising her hands high and basking in the glory of the new shop. "We only have the acquired luxury fabrics now, but once we've begun designing the future style of Eriodus you and I will be the first to walk around the city in gowns befitting the city of the Wyldes!"

I chuckled and gave her a big hug. "It's beautiful, just like you. You're going to be a complete socialite now, aren't you?"

Schula huffed. "I always was, I was just interrupted by a few things. Like war."

I shook my head. "Come on, show me the inside."

"Me too." A friendly voice had us turning and I beamed at Eberon, dressed like a proper Autumn Court king. The quite Thain next to him, giving me a small smile.

"Eb!" Schula grinned. "What brings you here?"

He waved a hand down the street to a large building in the style of Thanantholl. "It's my home away from home when I spend time here. It's something all the courts have forgotten, but I want to remember the seasons and that they each have a place in the Wyldes. I will still rule from Thanantholl, of course, but I want my court to have a unified front with the rest of the Wyldes. No more of the separation that let the Wyldes get into the state they're in right now."

"It's an awfully big house," I commented.

This time it was Thain's turn to chuckle. "We have a new resident for you as a goodwill representative from the Autumn Court, and she will he glad to hear that Schula has opened a dress shop."

Eberon pinched the bridge of his nose. "Mother is packing now, she should be here within the month."

Schula clapped her hands together in glee. "Wonderful! My best customer is moving in just down the street."

"It sounds like we need to add a tea room to receive our more gracious spenders," Liam added from the porch.

"Liam, you're a genius!" Schula laughed. "It's all coming together, now we need places around here that give good reason to dress up."

Eberon smirked. "Like a ball at the Autumn embassy?"

"I like how you think, Eb," she laughed. "We'll carve out a social season in Eriodus yet."

~

The I scooped out the last bit of dirt from the hole and sat back on my heels, looking up at Kalor. "Is that deep enough?"

My father placed a warm hand on my shoulder. "Yes, it's perfect. Drop the seed in."

He handed me the seed from Lark's tree, and I put it in the hole, covering it back up. Standing, I took a step back and Kalor put an arm around my shoulders as we both looked down at the centerpiece to the garden we had been working on.

"How long will it take?" I asked.

Kalor chuckled. "Patience. It's barely mid-spring, give it time."

I sighed, looking at the patch of dirt for a while longer before turning behind us to see the scattered field of cabins. Far to the south of the city, where it will take some time to grow out this far, was the cabin homes for me and a few of the witches and elves that did not want to live in the city center. We were spread out to a point that it was quite comfortable for me, considering where I had grown up. In the distance behind the field of cabins was a mountain peak that hadn't been there before, but was formed by Nassir for Spaulder so the dragon could have his space and still watch over the city. My little cabin sat so perfectly in the grass. A chimenea sent lazy wafts of smoke though the air and a well had been dug nearby. In the loft was a large bed, big enough for a triquetram to spend the night, or for the longer stay of a certain blue fae.

Kalor looked up at the sun, sighing. "I should get going, Fandor and I are meeting with Teyber about another trip to Eidelhein."

"How long will you be gone this time?" I asked.

"Probably no more than a month. We still have things to sort out with the council of elves there, and we may be bringing a few more interested parties to see Eriodus."

I nodded. "Maybe once you're back I'll have a sapling to show you."

He laughed, patting my shoulder as he stepped away. "Maybe you will, daughter."

I waved him off as he began walking toward the city where Teyber had built a place for the defenses of the city to be planned. More and more recruits of other races had begun to come to learn the skills of the elves, and in my opinion it had done more than anything else for the inter-species relations of the city. Of course, that mean Teyber was dreadfully busy, but he usually had time to share a cup of tea with an old friend if I stopped by.

Once Kalor was gone, I turned back toward my cabin again as the door opened. Thain stood in the doorway, wiping sweat off his brow as I walked over to meet him. 

"The cabinet is done," he said. "I think this one will be enough to hold all your supplies."

I hugged him, resting my head on his chest. "Thank you."

He wrapped his arms around me and scooped me up, carrying me into the cabin.

"Hey!" I giggled "What are you doing?"

"You're tired, you need to rest on the bed, my love."

"I do, do I?" I asked.

"Mmm. " Thain carried me up the steps to the loft and set me on the bed as he laid down beside me, planting a gentile kiss on my lips.

"How long can you stay this time?" I asked. He had spent about half of his time here and half in Thanantholl since the founding of the city.

He smiled, moving a strand of hair from my forehead and tucking it behind an ear. "I was gone on a longer mission last time so I could spend extra time here. Eberon doesn't need me back for two months."

I frowned. "Won't you miss him? He's your triquetram."

Thain kissed the side of my neck, and I shivered.

"It will be difficult to miss someone who is staying in the city for the next few weeks for diplomatic reasons."

With a laugh, I nudged Thain's lips away from my neck, only to have his hands begin to roam the band of skin above my pants and just under the hem of my tunic.

"I love you, Thain," I said.

"I love you too." He kissed me again. "Wren, I may need to spend a lot of my time in Thanantholl, but I hope you never forget that my heart is always here."

With a kiss to his cheek, I leaned in to whisper. "I'm glad you're back, I found something out while you were gone on your last trip."

"Hm?" He asked, moving my head to kiss down my neck again. "And what's that?"

I giggled as his kisses and hands trailed down me in playful, sensual movements.

"Did you know that a fae and a Wylde Witch can have a child together?"

His movements froze as he moved his head back to look into my eyes.

"Purda sensed it while studying with me," I said. "She said the chances were so low that only the Mother could have granted us this."

I grabbed his wrist gently and moved his hand down to my stomach. It was very early, too early to feel anything, but the knowledge that there was something there filled my heart.

Thain moved suddenly, scooping me up in his arms and hugging me tight. "Wren, you are a blessing in my life that I never thought I'd have. If this is a gift from the Mother, it must also be a blessing from the Stars. You are the unification of our people, and this, our, child is proof of that bond. I love you. Both of you."

I kissed Thain again, savoring my dark blue fae as we basked in the blessing we had been given.

In the perfect cabin, surrounded by loved ones and triquetram, in a city of all the peoples of the Wyldes.

For now and forever, home.