It had been a long trip.

The cart wheels turned slowly, creaking gently against the cobblestones. The night was breezy and warm, and everyone was tired.

Except, perhaps, for Thomas, who had not gone five minutes since asking Olivia when they would arrive home.

"I don't know, Thomas," she would answer tiredly. "Father is doing his best, but it is night and horses are fatigued. Please sit still."

Thomas gave an elaborate sighing groan. Katherine rolled her eyes. "Father, I still don't see why we couldn't install the cart improvements I made earlier."

"It fell to pieces, sister dear," Luke chipped in helpfully from the back. Thomas turned around, already rolling up his sleeves. The cart stopped abruptly.

"Stop fighting back there," Gideon threatened. "Thomas, turn around. Luke, speak with respect to your sister. Jane, what's the matter?"

"Nothing," Jane replied drowsily, her head lolling slightly backward. "'M just stargazing."

Olivia chuckled. Gideon smiled and clucked the horses into action again.

Minutes passed. Thomas repeated his question twice. Katherine began fiddling with her pen-knife and a small piece of wood she'd snapped off of a tree. Jane's stargazing adventure was cut short as the little girl's head flopped sideways and she began to snore sweetly. Luke carefully straightened her head.

"We'll be home in half of an hour," Olivia reported after a time, as the familiar sights of the village came into view. "Thomas, you'll help your father with the luggage? Katherine, please be careful with the knife. Oh dear- I'll have to wake Jane, she-"

"I'll carry her," Luke offered quickly. "Don't wake her."

Jane snuffled lightly, then resumed snoring.

Watching from his castle window, Lord Vesper watched the little cart trundling back. He smiled. So, Cahill had made a family trip out of going to get the supplies he needed. How quaint.

He could not himself understand the use of having children around. All they did was get in your way. Except perhaps Cahill's second-oldest, she was nearly as good as he in the mechanical arts. And, once he was in an approving mood, the younger Cahill boy was very strong. Lord Vesper recalled the time the young man had beaten his best guard at arm-wrestling with barely an effort. Shameful of the part of the guard, really. That one might be out of a job soon.

And the oldest, the tall boy with the dark hair and sharp eyes. That one might be inducted into Vesper's service as a spy one day, or perhaps an assassin. And the littlest girl, the one the eldest seemed so fond of- she could be an excellent artisan, perhaps do a portrait of Lord Vesper sometime. The first artist the lord had hired had fallen conveniently off of a high cliff, coincidentally right after the lord had noticed his thieving fingers.

But of course, these were just idle thoughts. Children were only children, after all.

Lord Vesper resumed his vantage point and continued gazing down at the small party. They were almost home now. Cahill would not go to bed, of course, but begin to play with his new chemicals the moment he could get them inside his laboratory.

"Nearly home," Olivia said softly as the cart continued slowly on. She turned behind her. "Oh, Gideon, they're all asleep."

Gideon shifted slightly to look. "So they are, bless them."

"Perhaps we'll unpack tomorrow," Olivia decided. Gideon nodded.

"Very well, but perhaps I will just bring in the package with my new chemicals. I'm eager to try them."

The two sat quietly, listening to the sound of Thomas's stentorian snores mixing with Jane's dainty ones, Katherine's slow breaths with Luke's measured ones, with the wind providing a gentle background for the sounds of a summer night.

From his vantage point, Lord Vesper listened too.