"I mean... on the upside, anytime I've had to step out to go and find, or purchase something... I get it free." Callie commented with an almost sheepish expression.

"That's a thing, I suppose." She added before sighing.

"Not wonderful, but I can't say that I am entirely ungrateful for it. I am a little broke, after all."

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

"No, I haven't." Callie confirmed with a nod before sighing.

"However, they want me out of the establishments as quickly as possible." She told him with a light shake of her head.

"Which isn't cool, but I suppose I'll take what I can get for the moment, all I can do."

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie just sighed.

"It's ok. Really. No one has been openly hostile to me" She assured him.

"However, that doesn't mean that there haven't been whispers, though."

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie, who was sitting on the couch just smirked.

"It's sitting by the stairs." She told him simply.

"Pick it up, let's find out." She added.

"You're looking a lot better, too." She then told him with a soft smile.

"Good."

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie just laughed at Adym's proclamations and antics, before getting to her feet.

"Good to know." She said simply.

"Now carry it around on your back for an hour. Let's see how you last." She then said.

"... I don't want to set out, you take like three dozen steps, and collapse because it's too much." As she said this, he could hear, and see, the concern though. She was honestly worried about him.

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie nodded.

"That... is definitely good to hear." She commented.

"However, I still want to play it safe." She then said with a light sigh. "Because the last thing I want to do is have ourselves well packed up and then you collapse part way or something."

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie was silent for a moment before chuckling.

"Yeah, I could eat." She answered with a nod.

"And you're right, it would be a good tester for you." She then sai, pausing a moment, thinking about it.

"Oh, and I've made sure that most of what I've grabbed over the past few days has been stuff that if not eaten quick, can be taken with. It'll last for awhile."

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

"Meat would be nice, I admit I haven't really been eating it the past few days. Been too preoccupied with cleaning and preparing." Callie admitted with a light laugh.

-----

Sure enough, an hour later, Adym was fine. The pack wasn't causing any discomfort, and was certainly not giving him issues. The next day, they made sure they had everything, before setting off. Adym was woken to a knock on the door, and when he answered he was greeted by one of the Prefect's attendants. They handed him a rolled letter with a wax seal holding a ribbon in place in the middle, and a small pouch with some weight and a jingle to it, before bidding him farewell.

After closing the door, Adym read the letter.

Lord Farwyn,

I wished to see you before you left, but I fear that something has come up and I am unable to do so. However, I do need to give you some information.

I trust that you are feeling well enough to be leaving your home now, but I worry you also do not know where you are going to go. Allow me to offer some guidance.

The port city of Dweldyn has a ship leaving its shores in 10 days. It would be worthwhile for you to be on that one, due to there being a small child that you should meet. I am merely passing the information on to you, for I have come into it through a trusted source.

I wish you the best. It was signed, and Adym knew his writing rather well by this point. This was from the Prefect, no question.

When he looked into the pouch, he saw that there was money in there, at least enough to buy a couple of tickets onto the ship.

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie paused a moment.

"... huh." was all she said for a few seconds.

"I admit, that's rather fortuitious." She added.

"Better than the zero information we had though. But... do you think we CAN make it there in 10 days?"

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie nodded.

"Yeah. Of course. You know where we're going and such better than I do." She commented as she got to her feet.

"I've really been ready to head out at a moments notice since you returned." She admitted. "However, I wanted to make sure you recovered first." As she spoke, she was making her way to the stairs. There was another pack there, but she didn't grab it. Instead, she went to a cupboard with a light chuckle and pulled something folded, and emerald out.

"Here. I had it repaired and washed." She said as she brought it over to him. It was the cape he'd been wearing when they first met.

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫