As promised, Benton and Bayton appeared at her tent the morning the Society intended to return to Kinkadia. Her eyes filled with tears when she saw them. She rushed forward and threw her arms around her friends. “They let you out.”

“All thanks to you, my lady,” Benton said.

“We’d still be displaced without your help,” Bayton added.

“Kerrigan. It’s just Kerrigan from now on. You’re no one’s attendant anymore.”

Benton and Bayton exchanged glances. Benton spoke up, “Actually, miss, if you’d please, we would like to work for you as our thanks.”

Kerrigan gaped. “What? I… I don’t think that I can cover your expenses. Plus, I live in the mountain, but I don’t have my own quarters yet. I was going to help you find work.”

Bayton waved that all aside. “We understand the circumstances, but we still feel that we owe you our support. And truly, you need some looking after.”

Benton clucked her tongue at the camp. “Allow us to take this down for you, miss.”

“Call me Kerrigan, please. I can’t have attendants that I can’t pay. That’s not how it works.”

“I’m sure you will figure it out, miss,” Bayton said.

“You always do,” Benton said and then went to work, taking down the tent and packing all of her belongings.

Kerrigan shook her head.

Fordham appeared then out of his own tent and stared at the twins in shock. “What have you done?”

“I’m sponsoring their release,” Kerrigan said. “I’ve been offering the opportunity to other Society members to reduce the potential refugee situation.”

Fordham gaped. “You didn’t mention it to me.”

“And when would I have? This is the first I’ve seen of you.”

“I’ve been working.”

Benton bowed deeply to Fordham. “Your Highness, may we help with your campsite as well?”

Fordham flinched at the royal title and looked around to see if anyone else had noticed. “No, I can do it.”

“Absolutely, Your Highness,” Bayton said and then began to deconstruct his tent as well.

Kerrigan shrugged. “They don’t listen to me either.”

“Because you both need looking after,” Benton insisted.

Fordham pursed his lips. “We’ll have to pay you.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Bayton said dismissively.

He ground his teeth and looked to Kerrigan as if this were her fault.

“You’d have known about this if you were doing anything but penance,” she hissed at him. “You should have been in that tent, negotiating for your people. You should be at the head of discussions for the refugees. These are your people, Fordham.”

“Don’t,” he snarled. “I am dealing with it. You deal with your fiancé.”

She glared. “I am dealing with my fiancé. I am dealing with how to get rid of him. That is my main objective.”

“I saw you kissing him in front of the entire camp. Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”