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"I won’t be copying the Briar. Not exactly, at least" Ashlynn said, looking at the flustered witch in her arms and gently moving a lock of hair aside so she could meet her gaze directly. "But just like Big Sister Amahle shaped the Briar into a place to keep her coven safe, I intend to create a place where my coven is protected as well. It’s just that we won’t be relying on natural fortifications and witchcraft to keep us safe, at least not in the beginning. "

Even though she had yet to explain her plans, the strength in her voice said volumes about her intentions.

The tragedies Talauia had suffered had provided a powerful lesson, but it was one that the Thistle Witch feared would become lost once Ashlynn and Heila relaxed into their home in the Vale of mists.

Thankfully, it seemed like Ashlynn not only hadn’t forgotten, she was already making moves to protect her people.

That realization alone was enough to wrap the winged witch’s heart in a layer of warmth that made her momentarily forget about the cool droplets of mist that gathered on her wings when they stopped their movement and gave her the strength she needed to clear the moisture from her multifaceted eyes.

Only when Ashlynn saw that the other woman’s eyes no longer seemed haunted by the ghosts of her clan and the horrors of her escape did she relax her hug, setting the Thistle Witch back on her seat before pulling her own chair over to sit next to Talauia as she continued to explain what would happen next.

"I’ve given orders to the Castle Master that this entire tower is to be emptied for our use," Ashlynn explained. "This fortress has five towers, but by the start of the new year, no one who isn’t a part of this coven will be able to enter this one without our express invitation."

"What about servants?" Ollie asked awkwardly.

"Justus has taken a room on the floor below to be available when I need him.

I, I tried to find a way to make different arrangements, the way you treated Heila," the young man said.

"But, Justus has a very strict sense of propriety. He wants to stay within his station."

"We all wear many hats," Ashlynn said with a light laugh, tugging at the brim of her own comfortable traveling hat. "As a knight, you should have a valet of your own, and a page or squire, plus your men-at-arms. But all of these people belong to ’Sir Ollie the Knight’, not to ’Ollie the Cypress Witch. ’"

When she explained it that way, it made a certain kind of sense to Ollie, though it felt strange to think of ’Ollie the Knight’ and ’Ollie the Witch’ as different people.

In his mind, he would become both a knight and a witch at the same time, in a ceremony that blended a knight’s vigil with a witch’s trial.

Somehow, he’d expected that his life would continue in much the same way, walking some vaguely defined path between the two roles.

It was only when Ashlynn pointed out the different roles of people around him that he realized that ’Ollie the Knight’ had a completely different set of expectations and responsibilities compared to ’Ollie the Witch.

’ Sometimes, those things would overlap, but for others, he would need to learn how to be clear on which ’hat’ he was wearing at any given moment.

"This tower is for family," Ashlynn insisted as she saw understanding beginning to dawn.

"I may change my mind years from now," she added.

"Justus hasn’t been your man for very long, and he may become part of our extended family in time.

But when I say that this is for us, I really mean it.

Even Thane and Zedya will need an invitation to enter here," she said, purposefully leaving Ignatious’s name off the list as she gave Heila a meaningful glance.

"And Lady Nyrielle, too?" Heila teased back, giggling at the image of Ashlynn walling her lover out of one of the towers in her own fortress. "Will you make her ask for permission to enter here?"

"I wouldn’t dream of it," Ashlynn said, waving her hands frantically to chase off the idea and instantly turning a bright shade of red. "It’s her castle. I can keep everyone else out but... never her."

"I’m sure that’s fine," Virve said, having regained enough of her composure to rejoin the conversation. "But, it’s just the four of us," she said. "Plus, Madame Talauia, when she’s staying over. Do we really need an entire tower for such a small group of witches?"

"Yes, you do, yes you do," Talauia said.

"You need rooms for concocting with your cauldrons, and gardens for your herbs, and places to keep all of your books, and so many other things too.

Mother Amahle, she keeps the entire Briar just for the five of us and occasional guests, and the Briar is bigger than all of High Fen City. "

"Tala’s right," Ashlynn said with a gentle smile as she watched the Thistle Witch latch onto safer topics like living quarters that didn’t brush up against as many painful memories.

"In time, I’ll also be clear-cutting a section of the forest outside the walls and replanting it with special trees to better serve our needs.

The tower is only a beginning, but for now, it will give us the space we need for everyone to grow into their powers over the winter while we prepare for what’s to come," she said.

Ashlynn tried to keep her voice light, but at the mention of what was to come, a shadow seemed to fall across the fading sun, casting a moment of gloom over the gathering on Ashlynn’s terrace.

All of them knew that the Lothians were gathering their forces for war in the near future, and this war would bring in countless soldiers from across the sea who sought glory in the Church’s Holy War.

It would be harder than anything the Vale had faced since Cellach Lothian succeeded in burning the fortress city to the ground and driving Lady Nyrielle from her home all those years ago.

Just thinking about the looming crisis made it difficult to put much weight behind thoughts of what to do years from now, when no one could say for certain that the Vale of Mists would still be standing by this time next year.

But Ashlynn had no intention of surrendering the fight before it had even begun, and she had even less intention of letting worries about the coming conflict spoil the moments of joy that were still before them.

"But enough about that," Ashlynn said, clapping her hands as if to quash the gloom before it could settle over anyone’s heart. "Ollie, Virve, I know you both need something more hearty before the night begins, so go, go visit Georg and see what he has in store for you to prepare for your vigil."

"And then," Ashlynn added, giving the soon-to-be knight a warm look. "Sir Ollie can show us around his village. Milo should have a space prepared for you by now, shouldn’t he?"

"I’m sure he has," Ollie said, flushing with embarrassment. According to Thane, a Vigil was usually a solemn, private thing, but when Ashlynn explained the trial he would undergo as part of his vigil, as well as the consequences of failure, he decided he wanted to face his trial in the village he’d worked so hard to build.

If he succeeded, then the people he’d grown close to over the past several months would all be waiting to celebrate his victory. And if he failed... If he failed, then at least the tree that held what remained of his spirit would be able to watch over his people for generations to come.