Kendrick was able to escape the castle, unnoticed and undisturbed. He witnessed every act that was carried out with his wife and her brother, and he was glad Sofia was unharmed. He left the castle, and scurried on his way back to Sofia's home. He was almost there when he realized.....he never called it his home. Always Sofia's home. And by always he means that since they had been married not too long ago. He had thought he would be able to start building his life while in exile, and through his exile he would meet the people he could trust, the people he could depend on, the person he could love. 


He was wrong and this proved it. Kendrick thought how foolish he had been, to open himself like that in such a way. He watched, from the shadows, as Sofia packed up and left. He heard where she was going and he was tempted to follow. But the mission came first. He had to save his city.....and himself. After Sofia had left, and Zach and Niesha left. He sat down in the house and thought on what to do next.


Time had passed, and as of the current time he was ever so closer to achieving his goal. He had been able to disrupt the Kings personal games and found a way to cut off his secret way of siphoning off the castles treasury. But he needed more.


Niesha watched Sofia leave, and sighed to herself. She was silent for a few moments, knowing they couldn't stop her going off. She turned to Zach, sickened by the evenings events. They had been about to have dinner, now...She shook her head, and said [color=f7941d]"We can't stay here, either. The first place my father will look to fix the slight to his honor for Sofia would be here, and I have no wish to run into him quite yet'[/color]


She knew they'd probably be safe back in the offices, but what if someone said they had seen Zach coming and going from there? The thought of the place she had built being found by her father, of it being destroyed simply because it was hers was too much for her. [color=f7941d]"Why does this have to happen?"[/color]



Zach looked at her and said  "[color=6ecff6]It doesn't have to. We don't have to leave. We are legally married. Let him come. You stay at the offices and stay out of sight. I'll stay at the house and the forge. He won't find either of you if he comes looking. I'm not letting fear of your father stop us and make us up end our lives.[/color]" He took her in his arms, kissed her and held onto her tightly.


Sofia had ridden two towns away and stopped at her friend Anna's house. She had done a lot of work for her in the past and she had told her if she ever needed a place to stay.... As Sofia knocked on her door she hoped she would remember her offer. When the door opened Anna hugged her and Sofia went inside and they talked for a while. Anna gave her the small house out back of her own. Usually it was for servants but Anna didn't have any. She preferred to save her money and do her own cooking and cleaning.


Sofia unpacked and sat on her bed. She was wondering where her husband was and if he was safe. She was still upset with him but she had already grown to love him even if he didn't know it or reciprocate those feelings. She asked that a message be delivered to Zach for her.


Kendrick was in full vigilante gear, inside his home. He had decided to make it his new base of operations. On the table he had maps and plans laid out, he had decided to hit big. He was going to make it so the King was caught in the act of stealing from the treasury, a sure way to get the king dethroned. If he did, he could come back and he could be properly married to Sofia. 


Niesha knew what Zach said was true. and yet....What if there were questions asked about their marraige? Neither one of them would give up Kendrick, she knew-yet the priest knew he had stood for her as her "cousin". She hesitated, wondering if she was thinking this through too much. Unless something had changed in the last two years, her father wouldn't care who Zach was married to. So, why was she worried?


[i]Because I fear him[/i] Niesha sighed to herself. Maybe...maybe it was time to stop running from the idea of her father, even if it was a very real one. [color=f7941d]"You're right, I know. I...I guess I'm just scared of losing you"[/color] She said softtly, letting herself be comforted by his contact, hugging him. 


[color=f7941d]"I don't want to hide. How would that look, if someone said they saw you going in and out of there constantly, and suddenly I'm not there when they go looking for Sofia? I don't know what to do, though"[/color]


Zach kissed Niesha tenderly. "[color=6ecff6]I probably should have insisted Sofia take you with her til the coast is clear but honestly I don't want you away from me even one night. I don't want you to be scared either. We won't hide then. If he comes looking for you we'll handle whatever happens together. I dare say your father wouldn't want to try and take you from me though. It might be the last thing he ever tries to do.[/color]" Zach pulled her back for a tight hug.


Zach walked with her into the forge and to the door of the house. He opened it and found Kendrick at the table with some maps.