The group broke up then and, responding to Rosa’s silent signal, the four Elemental Magicians and Kellermann gathered together and began to walk slowly toward the wagons. The main show tent was already down and had been taken down after the show, as had the sideshow tents. “So what were you arching your eyebrows about, Rosa?” Giselle asked, as they got out of listening distance of the others.

“I can help with some of that, if you end up needing to make those earthen shelters,” Rosa said. “I’m an Earth Master, and my Elemental allies could build those easily enough, so long as you have instructions or plans.”

Cody snorted. “In that case, we ain’t got nothin’ to fret about. If there ain’t enough shelter in this here abbey, we kin make ’nuff. I spent plenty winters in a sod house, an’ they kin be right cozy.”

“And it isn’t as if anyone would have to spend the entire day there,” Giselle pointed out. “It would just be a warm place to sleep. For that matter—” she looked at Rosa. “—if your Elemental allies would not mind, they could be at work rebuilding the chapel and adding onto the other buildings while we are still performing. Then no one would have to sleep in a dirt shelter.”

Rosa snapped her fingers. “Now that is good thinking! Given that your Mother was an Earth Master, I am sure they all know where it is—and given that the abbey is far away from the nearest village, they could work openly. I’ll just let them know how many people, and how much livestock to build for.”

“And food storage!” Giselle reminded her. “It isn’t likely that Talinsdorf or Marekdorf could supply food for as many people as we have all winter long! Whatever we need, we should plan on getting in a bigger town and bringing with us.” She thought about that a moment. “Would Earth Elementals know how to harvest hay?”

“I can find out,” Rosa promised.

“Then they should be able to get at least two harvests from the meadows around the abbey, and that should be enough for all winter long.” Giselle was feeling extremely happy now, and it showed in her voice.

And the others noticed. “What’re you so chipper ’bout, Ellie?” Cody asked, sounding amused.

“After all this time with all of you, I wasn’t looking forward to the winter alone,” she confessed, flushing. “I was perfectly happy when it was just me and Mother, and I thought I would be all right with her gone and just my sylphs, but . . . I find I like being with other people much more. And the idea of spending a whole winter by myself was not very appealing.”