Sister Anne stretched out her hand, and Eleanor briefly squeezed it. Smiling at each other, they wordlessly conveyed the understanding born of friendship.
As the company emerged from the forest and joined the better traveled highway leading back to Tyndal, the sun cast aside the veil of clouds and shone down with all the warmth possible in that dark season.
Someone in the company began to sing an old ballad.
Another joined him.
The journey home promised to be a joyful one.