[color=f26522]As the sounds of the house below her began to quiet down, Isabella felt herself let out a breath it felt like she'd been holding for awhile now. She pushed herself from her stiff bed, some of the straw falling from the mattress as she did so. She dusted any little bits of hay clinging to her shift before she slipped on her boots.

They were sturdy, and looked good enough, but if you got one look at the soles you would see come winter, Bela's feet would be liable to freeze. The young woman quickly pulled on her new cloak, and with a quick fasten, made her way out the creaky window and down the drainpipe.

Bela could have danced with happiness, with the freedom the thought of seeing Rory again gave her. The streets were more crowded than usual, and tonight, Isabella didn't mind. She slipped through the crowd, saying hello to vendors who'd stayed open late for the business. 

[color=0072bc]"Here ya go love, just for a smile."[/color] One of the hot food vendors called out as Bela was about to walk past. With a half smile and a curtsy, the old vendor handed over a large steaming hand pie. It was the biggest one she'd ever seen, almost half the size of her head.

[color=92278f]"Thank you so much,"[/color] Bela leaned in and kissed the toothless old man on the cheek before scurrying off. The pastry was still piping hot, and Isabella was excited to be able to offer to share if Rory was at the library. She knew the Paladin didn't know how much the cloak had meant, or her friendship for that matter. But to Bela, the kindness had struck her in a way nothing had in sometime.

Bela only slowed her steps when she approached the keep, she didn't want to awaken any of the lightly snoozing guards with her huffing. The  place was deserted and Isabella found she was glad of it. She wanted to be alone with the books and hopefully Rory.

The young woman wrapped the still warm pastry in the corner of her cloak and moved into the library. She would stalk the shelves for a book to take home, and hopefully, she would spot Rory in the meantime. 

[color=92278f]"So...herbal remedies or..."[/color] Isabella ran her finger along the spines of a few rows of books, reading their names aloud as she did so.
 [color=92278f]"Perhaps I should learn blacksmithing..."[/color] The young woman couldn't help but chuckle at herself.[/color]