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originally from his wife’s family, as his ancestors had never had any money, and he loved it. It was home.
    As he walked, he planned out what he would have to pack and take, and where he would look for the girl. He didn’t know much about her, but she wouldn’t have been brought from far away, and with a battler she’d attract attention. She shouldn’t be difficult to find. It was getting past her battler that would be the hard part.
    The front door of the manor opened at his approach, and a trio of girls ranging from three to twelve ran out, yelling for both him and Ril. Leon had no doubt that Ril loathed him most if not all of the time, and he’d always regretted that, but he couldn’t begrudge his daughters their affection for the battler. The hawk shifted on his shoulder, wings spreading, and Leon chuckled. “Go to them, Ril.”
    The bird immediately took flight, swooping over to thegirls. He arced around them as they danced in circles, laughing, and finally he alighted on the eldest daughter’s arm, cooing. The three converged on the bird, gently stroking his wings and back.
    “No hugs for me?” Leon asked. Giggling, the girls ran over to hug him as well, the twelve-year-old walking with exaggerated care so as not to disturb Ril. They hugged him and Leon laughed, letting them lead him into the house.
    His wife, Betha, waited there, smiling at him and stroking Ril’s head when her oldest daughter held him up. “I wasn’t sure when you’d be home,” she murmured, leaning forward to kiss her husband.
    “I’m afraid I won’t be here long,” he assured her, thinking again about the girl with the battler. Home was his sanctuary. Ril never blasted out with his hate here, not once he’d discovered it made the girls cry. Leon had peace here, and he did need the break, though he wouldn’t get one for long.
    “Do you have to go so soon?” Betha asked with a frown.
    “I’m afraid so. The king’s ordered it himself.” He turned and put a hand on his eldest daughter’s head. “Okay, Lizzy, Ril needs some serious play. Are you three up to it?”
    “Yes, sir!” she called, saluting. Her little sisters started giggling, and all three ran for their bedroom, taking Ril with them. Leon looked after them and shook his head. A girl with a battler.
    “Sometimes I wonder if Ril thinks he belongs to the girls instead of me,” he mused. “I certainly wouldn’t have to worry about boys sniffing after them if he did…” Not that he had to worry yet. Once he did, he’d be sure to meet them at the door with his battler on his arm. That should scare them away. Or it would prevent his daughters from ever being married, he admitted ruefully.
    “Lizzy’s asked for him already,” Betha spoke up, and leaned her head on her husband’s shoulder. “But any talk of that’s years and years from now.”
    “Years and years?” Leon smiled.
    “Decades. At least six.”
    Leon laughed. “Yes, ma’am.” Then, putting his arm around his wife, he led her toward their bedroom, having learned years ago to take his opportunities when they presented themselves.
    Ril relaxed, considering himself to be home. Shoved into a baby bonnet and tumbled over onto his back, he snatched gently at Cara’s fingers with his feet, trying to keep her from cramming a little wooden pacifier in his beak. The three-year-old, Nali, sucked her thumb and pulled on his tail, while the baby cried from her crib, wanting attention.
    “Don’t hurt him, Nali!” Lizzy protested, dragging her sister away. The young girl started to cry, which only encouraged the baby. Cara giggled, giving up on inserting the pacifier and settling instead for throwing it at Ril’s head. “Cara!” Lizzy gasped. “You’re so mean!”
    Stuck in this bird shape at his master’s order, Ril flared his wings and started to sing. All four girls silenced immediately, staring at him in wonder. Ril had been ordered to never speak, just like all sylphs, just as he’d been