Robert and Agnes urged everyone to dine and rest for a few hours before departing, considering the late hour. Healer Maya also joined them for dinner. Later, Maya approached Alan, expressing her desire to meet her master and inquiring about her whereabouts.
"You're welcome anytime, Healer Maya. My grandmother has no plans to relocate. Just come to Morgan's estate, and you'll find her there," Alan assured her.
"I'm tempted to join you all, but I have responsibilities at home and my own healing practice. Let me sort things out, and I'll come as soon as I can," Maya promised Alan.
Afterward, the girls retired to a room to reat for a couple of hours, while the boys went outside and lay on the lawn, gazing at the sky. Dave finally felt a sense of peace, with his stepmother acknowledging him and his father regaining his health. As Dave closed his eyes and began snoring lightly, the other boys gradually drifted off into peaceful sleep as well.
Everyone slept soundly that night. When the boys opened their eyes the sun was already up on the horizon.
Getting up, they did their routine stretches for half an hour then went into the stables prepared their horse for the journey and informed the carriage driver also to be ready in a couple of hours.
When they came out of the stable, Dennis the guard supervisor came and met Dave.
"Dennis, Can you do me a favor?" Dave requested. Dennis smiled "Lad no need to be so formal," tell me what should I do?
"Al, Ben could you help me pick a good, young war horse for my brother?" Both noded happily. Dennis can you take them to the best horse seller? I want to gift Tom a horse."
Dennis agreed and took Alan amd Ben with him.
Remaining four came back, got ready and informed the maids to wake the girls up. Within an hour, Alan and Ben came back. "It's done Dave. The horse is beautiful and 2 years old. It will grow into a powerful one. Ben said happily." Alan noded in agreement.
Within next hour everyone was ready to leave when Agnes requested them to have breakfast together before leaving. They could not refuse the request and had the breakfast together with the Winchester family.
After saying their goodbyes, everyone came to the entrance including healer Maya and Robert, who looked almost normal to Tom and Agnes eyes. Two big meals made such a fiffetence, thought Agnes.
Their horses and carriage came to the entrance. Tom was in awe of the war horses.
Dave smiled at Tom's expression and asked,"do you like horses?" Tom noded happily."I love the horses and I can even ride them now." Tom said proudly.
What do you want to be Tom? Dave asked?
I don't know brother. But I like the work father do but sometimes l feel like having some adventure.
"Father, please send him to have practice sessions of basic combat arts at the adventurers guild. And let him join Merchants guild next year. If he is really interested in the combat arts then you can plan for his advanced training or send him to the Winden academy." Dave said and Robert noded in agreement.
"We all here will be going to the University at the capital in a couple of years, except my little sisters for further improving our knowledge. As I said, if there are any emergency or if you need me don't hesitate to send a word to the Morgan's or the Heathrow's." Dave explained.
Robert and Agnes were shocked. Are you... you all are going to the University together?" Agnes asked shock evident in her voice. Dave noded. "We all here had already received a letter of acceptance from the university. Our entrance almost confirmed."
It was a common knowledge that hardly a couple of students had the ability to go to the university from each region. University hardly accepts 100 members per year from the entire kingdom.
She now knew how knowledgeable each of these kids were. Including her stepson, whome she had barely shown interest when he was at home. She again felt ashamed of her behavior and tears formed in her eyes.