Getting extra coins before the decisive battle was the best possible news. Luvia asked:
"Shade, should we use them now or save them?"
"Save them for now. Thomas Bennett's issue is hardly an issue, but I'm not sure whether we can successfully find the Clockmaker. Besides, there will be all kinds of trouble once we venture deeper into the forest, so we should keep the coins in reserve."
Luvia nodded gently, then smiled and asked:
"Last night, did you and Miss Olanord do anything besides sleep in the observatory?"
Shade put on an innocent expression.
"Luvia, is this really the time to discuss that? We should keep business and private matters separate. How could I possibly be in the mood for that before a great battle?"
"But why do I feel that this counts as your private matter too? Everyone has been talking today about how bold the Ancient Witch really is. Fine, fine, I won't bring it up anymore. In any case, be careful tonight. Once you've dealt with the matters inside the city, return to the ship to rest for a while before heading into the woods."
She let out a soft sigh.
"We've been through so much together that I won't say things like 'be careful' this time. But remember, many people are waiting for you to come home, so be careful. Look, I said it anyway."
Shade understood what she meant, so he gave Luvia a hug.
Leisha was brought over by Grace and Helen at three o'clock that afternoon. Since that morning, the sisters had sensed that the forest's spacetime conditions were falling out of control. They feared that by evening, the woods and the outside world would be completely sealed apart by their differing flows of time, so they brought Leisha over early.
Although