The next day, Danell, his father, and his brothers showed up shortly after dawn at their door as if they had some plan to corner Theora and her father before they changed their minds. As planned, Danell spent the day with Hamel, preciously collecting payments for the village doctor's treatments, and also spreading the word to anyone who came by about how they were trying to get Theora into the academy, and any donations would be welcome. Meanwhile, his mom was just as active and efficient in spreading the word; Merigold did exactly as she had said, going around the village and telling everyone about how Theora had a solid chance of becoming a knight, and how the village should chip in for one of their children's futures. Hearing her name all around the village made Theora a bit glad she wa
