"Captain," she answered as she slipped through the door. "It was time. At least for a little walk. Any longer and I would have been climbing the walls." And not in the often useful way of Percival's boots.

"Besides, Elaina should get to explore her environment." Elaina, who was currently sleeping the sleep of the full-bellied newborn, and who was far too young to really see anything beyond her mother's face.