She follows once she's sure he's moving.

Blaise stays close to Karl.

Raeli and Defiance take the lead again, leading the way back down to Darktown and Anders' clinic.

A large part of Karl believes this is some sort of dream. Or maybe a nightmare. 

He was out of the Circle, free for the first time in his life, and back with the man he loved, but what had happened to Anders? Was he some sort of abomination now?

He gripped Anders' hand tighter and lifted it to his lips.

Anders tucks his head into Karl's neck. 

"I love you."

Karl's eyes prick with tears.

"I love you," he says fiercely.

Cia's watching them, smiling, almost happily.

Defiance stumbles abruptly. "Rae-"

"Right here," Raeli says, stepping closer. "C'mon home."

-Something happens, and Raeli glows briefly as the body Defiance was previously inhabiting slumps dead.

"-That's better," she murmurs to herself.

Anders mouth drops open, and old arguments nearly come tumbling out of his mouth, but to say them would be hypocrisy. To scold Rae on taking in a spirit or demon, whatever they were, would be to deny that he was the same. And since Rae called herself 'home'...

"Your friend can...come and go from your body?"

"Yeah," she confirms, starting moving again. "It's not...easy on them, but we can do it..."

"Once we're safe, you must tell me how you did that."

His mind races, is this a chance to set Justice free? Return him to the Fade?

"We'll see if we can explain."

And not long after: They're back in Darktown.

Anders leads them back into his clinic. 

"Well. That was an adventure," he says, feeling a little more himself.

He then rounds on Cia and Ilska. A lecture does form, a scolding about leaving patients alone with no help, but he can't help the relief he feels that they're both okay. 

He envelopes Cia in a hug, and reaches out one hand to squeeze Ilska's shoulder.

Cia limpets onto him. "I'm sorry we didn't listen to you," ey says quietly.

Ilska twitches a little, not quite away from the touch, and then leans into it.

"If you don't mind," Raeli says quiety. "I could really use a good night's sleep?"

Anders holds the siblings a little longer, then pulls away. "Of course. Anywhere there's a free cot is yours to use."

Karl takes Anders hand. 

"Our gratitude," Raeli says, tipping herself onto the nearest empty cot, leaning the bow and quiver against it.

Blaise is loitering near the door, unsure what to do.

"It's all right, Blaise. You're safe now," Karl coaxes gently.

"This is a place safe for mages. Promise."

He shudders, moves a little closer to Karl, then stops, realising that puts him closer to Anders, and-

Stops.

"S'loud," he mumbles quietly. "Everything- s'loud."