Hiding for my life in the house of someone I hardly knew wasn't half bad. While Benevento was still clearly infuriated by my lies, he and his sister—Millicent, her name was—treated me with incredible respect and generosity, despite the fact that I was now a fugitive who had committed treason and was supposed to be in exile. I had no idea what I was going to do in the long run, but in the meantime, living like a real noble was wonderful.

I couldn't stay with them forever, however hospitable they were. I was bound to be found by their father eventually, and from what I had heard them say, he wasn't someone I wanted to meet. Still, I had nowhere else to go, so for a few days, there I was.

As I pushed myself out of bed the third morning, I couldn't help running over my situation for what must have been the hundredth time. I painfully thought through all I could recollect of my time in the king's throne room, but the details were still fuzzy. I knew I had shown up in a complete mess and said something incredibly insulting to the king, earning myself banishment for life. I still couldn't fully comprehend that. I was banished for life. I could never see Jero again. I could never attend a party again. I could never be Lord Vascanta again. I was a fugitive, hiding in the kingdom when I was supposed to be long gone.

This entire thought process was a rerun of the internal strife I had experienced the previous morning, but it was so difficult for me to accept that I just kept running over it, worrying and trying to fully realize what had happened.

I realized with alarm that I had hit my two-day deadline the previous night. If any guards saw me, they would kill me. That realization finally jolted me into the full reality of my situation. I had screwed up my entire life, probably for good.

A knock at my door startled me. "Lord Vasc— Casdin?" Millicent's subdued voice said quietly through the door. "Are you awake?"

I considered not responding, but ultimately decided it was past time to start my day. "Yes?" I responded, sitting up drowsily.

Millicent pulled open the door, peeking her small, smooth head through. Her delicate blue eyes blinked, observing me before she spoke. "Casdin, I know Benny's still mad, but he asked me to do something for you. I've been learning how to sew lately, and he wanted me to fix this. He said it was im'f'ortant." She held out Dath's brown jerkin, the sleeves newly stitched together.

"I-" I stuttered, overcome with a wave of sudden emotions. "Thank you." I took the vest from her. Benevento asked her to do this for me? I stared at the thing in my hands, suddenly flooded with memories of Dath. The friendly, jesting tone in which I had insulted the jerkin now seemed far too harsh since it had been one of the last things I had said to him. At the same time, that jesting had been something I shared with him and no one else, making my insults perhaps the most important things I'd ever said, at least in my heart. I felt incredibly mournful at the happy memories that accompanied my old friend, but at the same time, I was happy his jerkin was fixed. It felt right, somehow. A piece of Dath was whole and fixed and still in the world to give benefit to someone.

Millicent waited patiently for a moment to let me appreciate it before speaking in a soft, careful tone. "So... Ben and I were thinking that we should 'robably have you eat in the dining room when Father isn't home. It's been two days, hasn't it?"

I just nodded, unable to tear my eyes from the dark brown jerkin in my hand. I didn't make any effort to quell the sudden stream of tears that began to flow from my eyes.

"Father is going to leave soon. When he does, we'll have Cholette—"

"Millicent!" A sharp, deep cry from behind her interrupted her. I watched her face contort into shock, then horror. "Who are you talking to back there?"

"No one, father!" Millicent called back. She began to close the door.

"I heard you talking to someone, young lady... is there a man back there?!" I heard the roar of her father's voice grow closer.

"Uhh, no father!" Millicent almost got the door shut before I saw the disgruntled face of Lord Kendall Gavell appear behind her. He wore basic robes with uncombed hair. His eyes met mine. In a sudden rush, he grabbed the door handle to yank it open. My first reaction was to hide but there was no time and no way it would help.

He stared at me through the open door. His shock was almost comical for a moment before he spun around to face Millicent, who was in a state of utter panic.

"Why on earth is there a fugitive in our house?!" he roared at her, eyes ablaze. I could see barely restrained rage quivering through his body.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Gavell, sir," I said whimsically, giving a feminine curtsy that I had learned a few years back. It was difficult in my gentleman's garb, but the effect was well worth it. Kendall's face contorted in fury.

"You dare insult me with such disgusting lunacy?" he seethed, obviously outraged by my flagrant breach in custom.

"Please excuse me, sir," I practically squeaked. "I only wanted to use the restroom, sir, but I'm afraid I've gone and done it right on your bed! So if you wouldn't mind just going to sleep now, sir, I'll be on my merry way!" I curtsied again and moved to retrieve my few belongings. If I was going to be thrown out, I figured I might as well insult this cruel man while I was at it.

He spluttered, then took a fuming breath and visibly tried to regain his composure. "An order has been sent out for a fugitive with black hair and orange eyes to be reported to the guards for execution," he said smoothly, even though his voice was still shaking with anger. He held up a piece of parchment with my portrait painted on it.

"I don't look like that," I scoffed in a thick Cornotan accent. "I'd say my dashing looks are far superior to those of whoever has been drawn there." I flicked my hand in the general direction of the parchment.

He seemed to be at a complete loss, unaccustomed to such brazen remarks. It took him about two seconds to resort to vehement fury. "You dare mock me?" he thundered.

"Mock?" I said silkily, my voice returning to its standard Tramontan accent. "I'm surprised to hear you use such a big word! You seem like the type of person who wouldn't have such an expansive vocabulary. Oh, I suppose you don't understand 'expansive' either -- pardon me!" It wasn't as good of a response as I would have liked, but the anxiety flooding me was hindering my quick thinking.

"You will follow me," he said icily. "You will not resist. I will deliver you to the Royal Guard immediately for execution."

"That's one theory," I said flippantly. I was terrified, my heart pulsing as my mind swarmed with all the ways I could be executed. Mixed with my years of acting, this resulted in staggering quantities of satire, directed at Lord Kendall Gavell. "But I must admit, that theory doesn't sound incredibly tempting! If it's all the same to you, I think I'll be off now. Deal?" I held out my hand, deliberately using my left hand to throw him off.

Rather than shaking it, he moved to grab my wrist, but just as he did, Benevento burst in with a look of horrified shock. "Father!" He exclaimed in alarm, standing in the doorway with his mouth agape and eyes wide.

Kendall whipped around to face Benevento. "Boy! Explain to me immediately what this outlaw is doing here!"

Benevento's blue eyes were wide with horror. "Father, please allow me to explain, he's not a bad guy, there's every good reason for—"

"The only thing you should be explaining is you were thinking when you harbored him in our house!"

"Father, I beg you, let him stay, allow me to explain in a less—"

Kendall seemed to have reached a breaking point between anger and insanity. "Get out of my house!" he roared at his son, spittle flying from his mouth. "Take this lunatic and get out!"

Before either of us could comprehend what he had said, he raised his hand and harshly brought it down on Benevento's cheek. A loud smack split the air, accompanied by a small, high-pitched shriek from Millicent. Stumbling slightly from the force, I saw Benevento's eyes well up with tears as he raised a hand to his cheek.

"You will both leave right now," Kendall growled menacingly. "And you will never show yourselves to me again."

I realized he had just given me leave to exit without being reported to the guards. The implications of what had happened to Benevento didn't even cross my mind until I was halfway to the door. As I stooped to pick up my pack and bolt from the house, I realized what exactly had happened. Benevento, by harboring me here, had committed treason. He would be banished, just like me. I had brought this upon him.

I turned and saw Benevento's stunned look. His mouth hung open for a second, and his hand fell slowly from the red spot on his face. I saw understanding slowly show in his eyes. "But what about Millie-"

"Your sister is to be married shortly, though that will be more difficult now that she has assisted in harboring a fugitive!" He seemed to consider something, during which time I slung my pack onto my back. Then he raised his hand toward Benevento again. Before he could hit him, Benevento practically scampered aside and ran past me out of the door.

I turned tail and followed, my pack of clothes bouncing on my back as I bolted down the stairs. I had to get away before Kendall came to his senses and called the guards. Benevento exploded through the door, and I tore after him as he ran around the side of the house, no longer in view of the front door. The area between the two mansions had stubby, dry chunks of grass, but the walls were still nicely painted, though I was too far buried in my emotion to take note of the designs.

Benevento took a labored breath and didn't turn around to look at me; I couldn't see his expression.

"I-" I began, then closed my mouth. I slid off my pack and pulled out Dath's jerkin, fitting it comfortably around my shoulders. The wine stain from the party had been scrubbed out so that it looked like a noble's vest once again.

We stood there for a second, neither of us knowing what to say. I had always known how to deal with people; I had always understood socializing and had been able to strike conversations in any situation. But now, I couldn't figure out how to say anything. There was some sort of block, some sort of catch that prevented me from speaking, and I just stood there with my mouth trying to form words. I knew what I wanted to say. I wanted to apologize. Just apologize, Casdin, I commanded myself. But I couldn't. I just stood there, not knowing how to act for the first time in my life.

Benevento seemed to be at a loss just as much as I was, but that was more or less standard. That little observation made me just slightly amused, despite the gravity of the previous events, and I felt the block break. "I'm so sorry," I said finally. "This is completely my fault."

Benevento just looked downright broken. Both of his hands covered his face as he trembled slightly. The doublet he wore was unstraightened, but he made no move to correct it. I lowered my eyes to the ground, unable to watch his misery any longer. His posture and expression matched the internal agony I was feeling, and I felt a pang of jealousy at his lack of ability to conceal all emotions. I was an actor. I could make someone think I was cheerful no matter how torn I was inside. For once, I wanted to give back everything I had learned and show someone how I really felt.

You're not an actor anymore, Cas, a voice inside me seemed to say. You gave that up when you were banished. I took a sharp breath as something inside me seemed to snap. But I didn't move. After that one gasp, I returned to my look of guilty sadness. I couldn't even tell if that look was genuinely matching how I felt. I couldn't tell if I was acting. I couldn't tell if I was lying.

An angered shout snapped me out of my miserable reverie. "I cannot believe your insolence!" Kendall Gavell yelled. "They're probably long gone, and you didn't make any effort to stop them!"

I heard a soft whimper in reply.

"You are to stay where you are," Kendall growled. "I will report them to the Royal Guard. We will not tell anyone that you had anything to do with this outrageous enterprise, but you will face your own punishment when I return."

"Ye-yes, father," Millicent squeaked.

I heard a door slam. I sent a panicked look at Benevento, who had turned his head to reveal a horrified, tear-streaked expression, then hurried back behind the house. I heard Benevento's footsteps padding softly behind me. The front door of the house opened, and I saw Kendall exit and walk brusquely toward the castle.

Then another figure followed, watching nervously until he rounded a corner between two other mansions. I saw the girl fingering her strawberry blonde hair with shaking fingers as her vision darted around.

"Millie!" Benevento called softly.

She jumped in startlement, then recovered and hurried toward us. "I've got some money, Benny," she reported in a terrified whisper. The look in her eyes was that of a frightened animal caught in torchlight.

She ran up to her brother, who grabbed her shoulders gently. "Millie, what on Earth are you doing?" Benevento's voice shook significantly.

"I couldn't stand him, Benny!" she said, her voice catching as she wrapped her arms around him. "I didn't know what he'd do to me without you there! I can't believe that he..." She was trembling.

Benevento vigorously hugged her back. I could hear him sobbing from where I awkwardly stood against the house.

I watched their exchange with no small amount of longing. I didn't have someone who could hug me tightly when I was upset. Not that they would know when I was upset anyway.

I didn't know what I would give to be Lord Vascanta again. Lord Vascanta had been rude and arrogant, but he had also been a lively, exciting man. He had made Benevento more confident. He had been on track to help Benevento with his social ability.

But Casdin had hurt Benevento more deeply than I had thought was possible. In the short time of one week, he had lied to Benevento, spied on him, nearly got him killed by sitting still in a house under attack, taken refuge in his house as a fugitive, and eventually gotten him banished from the kingdom, putting his only sister in danger in the process.

I wanted to play any other role, regardless of the feeling of guilt it would now bring me. I wanted to lie again.