The Landen Village of Gorby, Askavi, Kaeleer, Sunday, Fandom time.

Warren was probably confused. At least, Karla hoped he was.

They were standing in front of a small cottage at the outskirts of a small, slightly ramshackle village that was most certainly not Halaway. When they had climbed into the Coach this morning, Karla had told him that they were going to see his surprise now--a surprise that she had very heavily hinted was going to be a pair of leather pants or two from Lord Aldric, the Hall's preferred tailor. And, in part, that was true! She had ordered him a few pairs and intended to give them to him once they were finished!

But that wasn't the surprise she'd mentioned a few weeks ago on their birthday.

Taking a deep breath, Karla turned to him, wearing her best 'unsure-but-game' smile and said, "Are you ready for that surprise then?"

And before he had time to answer, Karla knocked three times on the door.

There was a pause and then the door slowly creaked open, revealing a little girl standing just inside the doorway. Her hair was a little longer and she was a little taller now--her seventh birthday had been a few weeks past. But she was still recognizable as the little girl who had asked for a story in the ruins of Agio while blood and death reigned in the skies outside the building.

"Happy birthday," Cora said, giving them both a happy smile.

[For he who was lovingly modded and NFB, please.]