Lydia approached the house with more confidence now that they had left the tunnel behind them and the house was clearly visible.  She ran for the house and huddled in the recessed doorway, trying the handle. At first, the cold metal handle resisted turning but she muttered some words and little by little, as if the door were playing a tug of war with her, the handle began to turn. The screeking sound rang out like the death throes of a rabbit in the silent woods.<br/><br/>Taking a deep breath, Lydia pushed the door open but stood taking in the aura of the room, searching for intruders. When she was certain no one had breached the wards, she turned to the man, just now fully registering his refusal to stay the night. Her throat dried up.<br/><br/>Her voice came out like a croak.<br/><br/>“I understand.  Your work is important. If you save others as you have me this night, you are one fighting for balance. I insist that you must come here as your work allows. I will have potions and teas ready for you to strengthen your power and to guard you from detection.”<br/><br/>She sat a chair upright that had fallen over and turned to speak more to him, but the cloaked man was gone. Lydia went to the door, looking out for a final sight of him but the only thing that greeted her eyes was the waving pine boughs and overgrowth of ferns. The only sound that greeted her ears was the crying of the night bird and the soughing of the wind in the trees. Wiping tears from her cheeks, Lydia went back inside and closed the door tightly.<br/><br/>Busying herself with charms in the windows and wards on the doorway, Lydia made the house secure and went to the narrow feather bed where her childhood quilt in a starburst pattern on a black back ground lay across the foot, folded neatly. Who was that man, she wondered. She had not seen his face. Maybe it was the perverse child that lived in side her but she wanted to see his face. Lydia lay down without undressing and slipped into a restless sleep.<br/>