What Comes Next from Alder

Heiassa -   It's strange to be this happy without you here to share it with. No matter who's around, I'm still baking one set of tea biscuits too many. Then Knotrael gives me that look and says something something silly and it's like a cool breeze on a humid summer day in the jungles back home. I'm still in your shade, but the leaves of the canopy are too far away to touch.   While Tira is with Haze and Andstella, I've been talking to Miriam about what comes next. She wants to come with us. I told her that I don't know how long we'll be on the other side, that she needs to understand what that means about coming back home and when she might see her family here again but she threw your words back in my face about the family we choose. I'm actually pretty proud of her.   We're going back. It feels weird to say after so long. I'm still processing how different I've become over here from the person I was when I had to escape across the mountains. Inner family of a Hand... I don't think my sister will believe me, much less my parents. Tira wants me to stick to the capital for a bit - I'm hitting a wall with long distance gates and shadow magic in general. She thinks Alwen can help, but also that the libraries at the academy and elsewhere in the capital may have other resources I can use. None of us know quite what's in store for Hella and Kadia when we get there but we'll figure it out - maybe I'll be around for them too. Kadia is a bit apprehensive - Hella is just excited.   I was never good about writing home when I was travelling with the army... I promise, I'll do better this time around. While I'm not there in your shadow, stay safe.   Alder