When they opened the door, they were greeted by the sound of the usual morning rush—and Harda trying to yell to the customers over all the noise. Secela smiled. It was so good to see familiar surroundings again—and familiar people. Secela dragged Ina over to a corner of the room, where they waited out the rush. When at least half of the customers had left, and the tavern wasn’t quite so loud, Secela walked up to Harda, with Ina behind her. Harda looked up, and her eyes, whose eyebrows had been furrowed as she looked down at a notepad, brightened.

                “Secela!” she said. “You’re back!”

                She stepped out from behind the counter and enveloped Secela in a hug. Then she stepped back and smiled.

                “And I assume this is Ina?” she asked.

                “That’s right,” Secela replied.

                “It’s going to be wonderful to have you both here!” Harda exclaimed. “And before I forget… I have some news for you. I’ll be right back.” She winked, then disappeared upstairs.

                “What was that about?” Ina asked. Secela raised an eyebrow and shrugged in reply.

                When Harda came back downstairs, she had two pieces of paper in her hands. She handed them both to Secela.

                “Take a look at this!” she said, grinning.

                Secela’s eyes widened as she stared at the papers, Ina looking over her shoulder. The first piece of paper was a family tree. Secela’s family tree. Secela saw her name, then above it, her father and mother’s names, then… next to her mother’s name… was Harda’s name.

                How can this be? Secela thought.

                “Wait… so you’re my… aunt?!” Secela exclaimed, looking wide-eyed at Harda. Harda grinned back at her.

                “That’s right. While you were staying here, I knew you reminded me of someone. And I didn’t realize it was my sister until you left. So after that, I took a trip to your orphanage and asked the people there for your family tree. And my suspicions were correct!” Her grin broadened. “Did you see the next page?”

                Secela looked. It was a paper that she had seen people sign when they were adopting someone. At the bottom, on the dotted line, was Harda’s name. And at the top was Secela’s. Secela’s cheeks turned red with delight, and her eyes started to water, even though she was smiling.

                “You’re adopting me?” she asked, even though her voice cracked. Harda nodded, crying a little herself. Secela ran to her new guardian and threw her arms around her neck. Harda hugged her back.

                “And we can go to the orphanage tomorrow and do the same for Ina. I’m sure they won’t let Alorra get away with having their orphans in such terrible conditions.” Harda said, and opened one of her arms to let Ina join in the hug. Ina stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the two of them.

                Life continued on after that. Harda really did adopt Ina, and a new governor for Jadiro was elected a few months later, (Nobody voted for Alorra’s husband; one of the townspeople had witnessed Secela and Ina’s escape, and spread the true rumor that Alorra had many servants, all of whom she treated terribly.) the rest of the orphans that were under Alorra’s control were freed. After that, Secela and Ina spent most of their time attending Veavelle’s school, and helping Harda and Mr. Griem, who became like family to them, with the Hungry Chicken whenever they could.